Changes in the Hematological Parameters of Rats Administered Sub-chronic Doses of Chloroform Extract of Artemisia maciverae Linn

Abstract

The effect of sub-chronic doses of chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae on the hematological parameters of male Swiss albino rats was studied. The rats were randomly distributed into four groups of 24 animals each. The control group was administered the solvent while the other groups were intraperitoneally administered chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg b.wt, respectively, for 60 days, and then monitored for another 30 days before sacrifice. Results showed no significant changes (p>0.05) in the hematological parameters at doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg treated animal groups, but statistically significant (p<0.05) elevations were observed in the packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and lymphocyte count of the animals treated with 200mg/kg body weight of the extract after one week of treatment. Neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil counts remained statistically unchanged (p>0.05) for all the treatment groups during the experimental period. The elevation observed in the PCV, Hemoglobin, WBC and lymphocyte counts of the rats treated with 200mg/kg of the extract at the onset of treatment suggests some possible breach of the integrity of blood synthesis and regulatory system.