The Effects of Ethanol Leaf-extract of Anacardium occidentale on Haemoglobin and Packed Cell Volume of Albino Rats

Abstract

The effects of ethanol-leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale on haemoglobin and packed cell volume in albino rats were investigated through spectrophotometric and centrifugation methods. The experimental animals were grouped into A, B and C with four animals in each group. The ethanol-leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale was administered to the animals through oral intubation at the doses of 200, 600 and 0mg/kg of body weights respectively for 14days. The haemoglobin concentrations (g/dl) recorded as follows: 14.38±0.52, 13.71±0.08, 15.25±0.14 for animals in groups A, B and C respectively with corresponding values for packed cell volume (PCV) (%) as 43.15±1.65, 41.13±0.76 and 45.68±1.27. There was also a significant reduction in the body weights of the rats. The ethanol leaf-extract of Anacardium occidentale exerted significant (p< 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in the haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume and body weights of the rats.