The Effects Of Aqueous Extracts Of Hibiscus Sabdariffa, Azanza Garckeanaand Grewia Tenaxon Hematological Parameters And Correctionof Anemia In Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the possible effects of three traditional medicinal plants extracts in the correction of anemia. These plants were: seeds of Hibiscus. sabdariffa(Kerkade), fruits of Azanza. garckeana(Jakjak) and fruits of the common plant Grewia . tenax(Guddeim). Two types of anemia were chosen for the study: hemorrhagic anemia (by using hemorrhagic bled rats) and nutritional anemia (by using nutritionally iron- deficient rats). A constant dose of 2g/kg body weight of aqueous extract is used for the evaluation of the possible effects of these three plants on the two types of experiments on various hematological parameters of anemic rats. Estimation of iron content of the three plants revealed that G. tenaxhas had the highest value of iron content, and A. garckeana extract came second; while H. sabdariffaextract has had the least amount of iron content. The three aqueous extracts of the three plants caused significant-increases in the hemoglobin (Hb), Packed corpuscular volume (PCV) and Red blood cell count (RBC) of the hemorrhagic anemic rats, throughout the first and second weeks of experiments; in addition to that, extracts of G. tenaxand H. sabdariffacontinued to have the same favorable effect to the third and fourth weeks of the experiment. However, these extracts did not cause any noticeable effects on other hematological parameters (Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Studies carried out on iron-deficient anemic rats revealed that only G. tenaxand H. sabdariffaextracts that had small and equal effects on the hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts of the rats, but with no effect on other hematological parameters. The effects of A. garckeanaextract and H. sabdariffa extract on iron absorption were studied by using rat everted gut sac technique. The obtained results were compared with that of a former study carried out on fruits of G. tenax. It was found that, H. sabdaiffaextract had better tendency in increasing iron absorption than did the A. garckeanaextract when compared to the capability of G. tenax extract in increasing iron absorption performed in that former study