Abstract

Gabriel A. Agbor, Julius E. Oben, Jeanne Y. Ngogang

The haematinic activity of an orally administered aqueous extract of Hibiscus cannabinus leaves was studied on haemolytic anaemic rats. Anaemia was induced by an oral administration of phenylhydrazine for a period of 8 days. Red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and pack cell volume were analysed as indices of anaemia. The mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration were calculated accordingly. Phenylhydrazine induced a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the blood parameters indicating anaemia and also resulted to significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell volume values, which are indicators of macrocytosis. Leaf extract of H. cannabinus induced a significant (P<0.05) increase in the red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and pack cell volume which had been originally decreased by phenylhydrazine administration within one week of treatment. The presence of macrocytosis turn towards normal as the animals recovered from anaemic condition. The results obtained suggested that H. cannabinus leaves may have haematinic properties.