PERIPHERAL BLOOD

This study comparatively evaluated the peripheral blood smear restorative potential of the equal mixture of aqueous polyherbal leaf extracts of Justicia carnea Lindl., Ficus sur L., and Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. in phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced haemolytic anaemia Wistar rats, with the aim of providing scientific validation for their traditional use as “blood tonics” in Southern Nigeria. Haemolytic anaemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of PHZ on days 1 and 2, after which rats were treated daily for 14 days with distilled water (negative control), vitamin C ( positive control), while aqueous polyherbal leaf extracts at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg respectively. Peripheral blood smears prepared on days 0, 7, and 14 post-induction were microscopically assessed for key erythrocyte morphological parameters including anisocytosis, poikilocytosis (schistocytes, echinocytes, stomatocytes), polychromasia, and presence of nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs). At 24 hours post-PHZ, severe haemolytic damage was evident across all PHZ-treated groups, which moderately normalize by day 7. Treated animals exhibited a near-complete normalization of RBC size and shape by day 14. The findings underscore the importance of integrating morphological endpoints like anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, and nucleated RBCs into preclinical evaluations of anti-anaemic phytomedicines.