Evaluation of Serum Haematological and Electrolyte Changes in Wistar Rats Administered Some Polyherbal Preparations

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) has today become a major public health threat. Despite several ongoing clinical trials, there is as yet no specific treatment for this disease. This study evaluated the effects of 3 polyherbal mixtures (CoV-1, CoV Pla-2 and CoV Pla-3) on some electrolyte and haematological parameters in laboratory animals.
 The parameters evaluated were PCV, HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RBC, WBC, neutrophils and lymphocytes counts, including Na+, Cl-, HCO3-, K+. Treatment was per oral with doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for the 3 polyherbal mixtures. Control group had 0.1 mL of distilled water per oral. The extract was safe up to 5000 mg/kg. An insignificant (P>0.05) decrease in RBC was observed at all doses except for 200 mg/kg for CoV Pla-3 which was significant (P<0.05) compared to control. When compared to control, an insignificant increase in the mean lymphocyte values in all extracts was observed. WBC in CoV Pla-1 and CoV Pla-3 increased, compared to control, as well as MCV, MCH for all polyherbal mixtures. Neutrophils increased in the rats administered the highest doses of Cov Pla-1 (200 and 400 mg/kg) and CoV Pla-3 (100 and 200 mg/kg) extracts. An insignificant difference (P>0.05) in serum levels of Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3- were observed in all test animals, compared to control. The results obtained in this study indicate that the extracts did not cause significant changes in haematological parameters evaluated, which implies it is non-toxic.