Evaluation of Haematological Parameters and Blood Glucose After a 28-day Oral Administration of Standardized Extract of Laggera aurita (Linn) in Rats

Abstract

Abstract
Lagerra aurita is widely used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments in African countries like Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana. It has been reportedly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, pain, epilepsy, dyspepsia and indigestion. This research is aimed at assessing safety profile of crude extract of Laggera aurita in rats. A total of fifty rats were employed and divided into 5 groups of 10 animals each (5 males and 5 females per group). The animals were orally administered the extract at doses of 600, 300, 150 and 75 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Food and water intake were measured daily while blood glucose level and body weight were evaluated weekly. Organ weights, biochemical and haematological indices, were assayed after 28 days. There was no significant change in food intake, water intake, glucose level, body weight and organ weight.
Haematological parameters were generally not significantly (p< 0.05) affected by the extract, except in a few situations where a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in PCV of male rats at 600 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg was observed as well as a significant reduction in WBC of male rats at 300 mg/kg. Haematological parameters of the female rats did not show any significant change with the exception of eosinophils which was significantly lowered in all treatment groups. The crude extract of Laggera aurita is relatively safe on blood parameters.