ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI POTENTIATES HAEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objective: The consumption of a variety of local herbs and vegetables by man contributes significantly to the improvement of human health in terms of prevention, and/or cure of diseases because plants have long served as a useful and natural source of therapeutic agents. The present study aims at investigating the hematopoietic effect of Nardostachys jatamansi extract (NJE) in albino wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four male albino wistar rats were used and divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each. The Group I served as a normal control. The animals of Group II, III and IV were administered orally with aqueous suspension of NJE at the dosage of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight for 15 consecutive days respectively. Then blood was Blood was collected and used for the estimation of Peripheral blood counts (RBC, WBC), haemoglobin, thrombocyte count and Hematocrit was determined at day 0.25 (6 hrs), 0.5 (12 hrs), 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 days of treatment using automated haematology analyzer. Body weight was also recorded regularly. Statistical Analysis was done by one way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test for multiple comparisons using SPSS-16. P value less than 0.05 was considered the level of significance. Results: All the parameters have shown a significant increase (p = 0.000) in experimental animals except body weight which was increased insignificantly. Conclusion: Nardostachys jatamansi extract can be attributed to stimulating or protecting hematopoiesis.