Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effects of ethanolic extracts of leaf, seed and fruit of Datura metel on some haematological parameters in male albino rats. Thirty-five male albino rats were used in this study and were randomly placed into seven groups with five rats in each group. The extracts were administered accordingly to Groups 2 to 7 through gavage intubation. At the end of the administration of the extracts, blood was collected by cardiac puncture from each animal and haematological auto-analizer (Abacus 380) was used for the haematological analysis. The result showed a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease of white blood cells (WBC) count in Groups 3 and 5 administered high dose (600 mg/kg bw) of leaf extract and high dose of seed extract respectively compared with the normal control (Group 1), while there was a non-significant increase of WBC count in the groups administered low dose (300 mg/kg bw) of leaf extract (Group 2), low dose of seed extract (Group 4), low dose of fruit extract (Group 6) and high dose of fruit extract (Group 7) compared with the normal control. Results of red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) of these parameter in Group 5 administered high dose (600 mg/kg bw) of seed extract and a non-significant decrease in Group 3 administered high dose (600 mg/kg bw) of leaf extract compared with the normal control. RBC, PCV and Hb levels increased in Groups 2, 4, 6 and 7 compared with the normal control. This means that low doses (300 mg/kg bw) of ethanolic leaf, seed and fruit extracts, and high dose (600 mg/kg bw) of fruit extract of Datura metel improved the haematological parameters analysed and may be good for boosting blood composition, but high doses (600 mg/kg) of ethanolic leaf and seed extracts posed an adverse effect on the animals. The high levels of RBC, PCV and Hb of Groups 2, 4, 6 and 7 animals when compared with the normal control show that administrations of low doses of the various extracts and high dose of the fruit extract improves haemoglobin synthesis, erythropoiesis, blood composition and could possibly improve the index of immune function.