Effects of Oral Administration of Aqueous Extract of Tridax procumbens Leaves on Some Haematological Variables in Rats

Abstract

The haematological indices(haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean Corpsular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), platelets, neutrophil, lymphocytes, basophil, monocytes and eosinophil) following oral administration of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens leaves at doses of 25 mg/kgbw, 50 mg/kgbw and 100 mg/kgbw in albino rats were evaluated progressively on daily basis for 28 days. The acute toxicity value of oral administration of aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kgbw. Extract administration at 25 mg/kgbw significantly (P<0.05) altered Hb, PCV, and MCV counts. The extract had no significant (P>0.05) toxic effects on differential counts, RBC, WBC and MCHC. In the first week of treatment with the extract at 25 mg/kgbw and 500 mg/ kgbw, feed and fluid intake of rats were not significantly (P>0.05) altered while 100 mg/kgbw significantly reduced these parameters when compared with the control. These results indicate that aqueous extract of T. procumbens leaves exhibit low toxicity in rats and may be safe for use as therapeutic for managing clinical conditions.