Antioxidative and Antianaemic Potentials of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Lowveld Bead String (Alchornea laxiflora) in Phenylhydrazine-induced Anaemic Wistar Rats and Its Phytochemical Constituents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2025.37Keywords:
Oxidation, Blood, Extract, Alchornea laxiflora, ROS, phytochemicalsAbstract
Background: Anaemia, a public health concern, is characterized by a decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume. Phenylhydrazine, a toxic chemical, is commonly used to induce anaemia in experimental models. This study investigated the antioxidative and antianaemic effects of aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora in phenylhydrazine-induced anaemic wistar rats.
Method: Qualitative phytochemical screening and HPLC analysis of the extract were carried out. Thirty female wistar rats weighing between 166-169 g were randomly divided into six (6) groups of five animals each. Groups 1 and 2 served as negative and positive control respectively and treated with 1 mL/kg body weight of distilled water only. Groups 2 to 6 were induced with anaemia by intraperitoneal injection of 36 µL/kg body weight of phenylhydrazine (PHZ). Groups 3 to 5 were treated with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of A. laxiflora respectively while group 6 was treated with 2 mg/kg body weight of folic acid. The experiment lasted for 14 days after which the rats were sacrificed and their blood collected for hematological parameters. Antioxidative effects of the extract was also investigated.
Results: The results showed that the aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora is rich in phytochemicals. The extract demonstrated antioxidative properties, as evidenced in its reductive effects on oxidative stress. It also revealed antianaemic effect where it significantly improved hematological parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red blood cell (RBC).
Conclusion: This study confirmed the presence of various phytochemicals in the aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora. The extract demonstrated antioxidative and antianaemic properties. The extract's protective effects against anaemia are likely attributed to its phytochemical constituents.
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