EFFECT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Hibiscus sabdariffa ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN LEVODOPA-INDUCED ANEMIA

Agbai E.O¹. and Nwanegwo C.O².

¹Department of Human Physiology, Madonna University Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.

²Department of Human Physiology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The effect of oral administration of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on body weight, red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of albino wistar rats were studied. Sixteen albino rats were grouped randomly into four groups (n = 4). Control group: (Group A) was given distilled water and normal rat chow. Experimental Group B received 0.4 ml of levodopa only. Experimental Group C received 0.4 ml of levodopa plus 300 mg/kg of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract. Experimental Group D received 0.4 ml of levodopa plus 600 mg/kg of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract. At the end of 4 weeks of study, results showed a decrease in body weight of group C and D. The level of PCV was significantly reduced in Group B, C and D that received levodopa compared to PCV levels before administration. Group C and D showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in PCV, RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels when compared to group B in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no significant increase (P > 0.05) in PCV, RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels between group C and D respectively when compared with group A (Control). The study suggests that Hibiscus sabdariffa increases some hematological parameters in levodopa-induced anemic rats and might be beneficial in the treatment of anemia.