Hematological Status and Organs/Body-weight Parameters in Wister Rats during Chronic Administration of Cassia occidentalis

Background: Cassia occidentalis has been used in traditional medicine since prehistoric times and it’s now known to be a natural medicine with many beneficial effects,

Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of methanol extract from this plant on haematological parameters in rats.

Methodology: A total of ten (10) white albino rats with average weight of 140±2.50 g were grouped into 2 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 rats serve as control group, while group 2 was treated with 600 mg/kg of Cassia occidentalis, for 30 days. The haematological parameters were determined using the automated haematologic analyzer SYSMEX KX21, using standard techniques. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and the level of significance was at P<0.05.

Results: Showed that administration of the plant extract at dose of 600 mg/kg body weight did not produce any significant effect (P>0.05) on the RBC Hb, MCV, MCH, RCD width-cv and RCD width-sd but cause significant decrease and increase in HCT and MCH-C respectively compare to control rats. The extract also increased the WBC count and LY count but decrease the mid cell total count and granulocyte compared to the control rats. The extract also decrease platelate count and plateletecrit but had no significant effects on mean platelate volume and platelete distribution weight. However, the body weight gain and relative organ weight ratios were not significantly different from those of the control rats.

Conclusions: In conclusion, administration of methanol extracts of C. occidentalis at 600 mg/kg investigated has brought about alterations in the WBC and Ly among thrombocytic indices, platelate count and plateletecrit among leucocytic indices and cause alteration to only HCT and MCH-C among the erythrocytic lineage. This may be an indication of local systemic toxicity.