Effects of Aqueous Leaf- -Extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens on Doxorubicin- -Induced Hematologic Toxicities in Wistar Rats

Mercy O. Ifeanacho

Jude C. Ikewuchi

Catherine C Ikewuchi

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of aqueous leaf-extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens on haematological indices of doxorubicin treated rats. Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg body weight) was intra-peritoneally administered 48 h prior to sacrifice; while metformin (250 mg/kg), and the extracts (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) were orally administered daily for 14 days. The red cells, white cells, lymphocytes and platelets counts, haematocrit, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit and platelet-larger cell ratio of Test control were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of Normal control, but not significantly lower than those of all the other groups. The mean cell haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentration of Test control were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the other groups. The extracts had no harmful effect on the number of red cells, white cell and platelets indices, and prevented/ameliorated doxorubicin-induced haematological toxicity.