Ameliorative Effect of The Methanolic Leaf Extract of Jatropha gossypifolia on Cypermethrin‐Induced Heamatological Alterations of Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Cypermethrin (Cyp), a synthetic pyrethroid developed for agricultural and public health applications has become harmful to the environment and mammalian life owing to indiscriminate uses. Thus, pesticide safety and how exposure may affect human health in general and hematological status in particular are of paramount concern. This study was aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha gossypifolia (JG) on cypermethrin‐induced alterations on the haematological status of female wistar rats. Eighty female rats divided into ten groups of eight animals each were treated orally for thirty days. Groups 1 and 2 were given corn oil and cypermethrin (20 mg/kg) respectively. Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were co‐administered with Cyp+JG50 mg/kg, Cyp+JG100 mg/kg, Cyp+ALA50 mg/kg and Cyp+VC50 mg/kg respectively. Groups 7, 8, 9 and 10 were given only JG50 mg/kg, JG100 mg/kg, ALA50 mg/kg and VC50 mg/kg respectively. The animals were sacrificed after the 30th day. The whole blood was collected and used for haematological analyses. Results obtained from this study showed that cypermethrin administration significantly (p<0.05) decreased concentration of RBC, HCT and HGB; WBC, LYM and %LYM; and PLT, while it significantly increased MCH, MCHC and MCV; and RDW_CV. Co‐administration with the methanolic leaf extract of JG, ALA and VC were able to attenuate the adverse effects of cypermethrin exposure. Groups administered with only the plant extract, ALA and VC were therapeutically safe at the doses under study. It can be concluded from this study that the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha gossypifolia and ALA protects against haematological alterations.