Myeloprotective and Hematinic Influence of Harungana madagascariensis in Benzene-initiated Onco-hematologic Process in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Harungana madagascariensis is a medicinal plant that is traditionally utilized for the treatment of anaemia. Benzene constitutes an occupational toxicant due to its adverse effect on hematology of exposed industrial workers leading to onco-hematology. Therefore, the efficacy of Harungana madagascariensis against benzene-induced pre-leukaemic condition was investigated in rat model.
 Methodology: Hematological disturbance leading to pre-leukemic conditions was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of 400mg/kg of benzene in propan-2-ol:water (1:1 v/v) every other day for 28 days. Following benzene intoxication, 200 mg/ kg HM was administered orally for 14 days. Hematological parameters and blood cell morphology were compared between baseline control and benzene-intoxicated rats with or without HM extract treatment.
 Results: BZ-induced hematologically disturbed rats exhibited anaemic symptoms marked by reduction in hemoglobin level, red blood cells, and packed cell volume with morphologic blast cell appearance, polychromasia, hypersegmented neutrophil, anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. Moreover, there was an altered redox status depicted by a significant reduction in plasma level of total sulfhydryl content with concomitant increase in advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) that were accompanied by increased frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and hypercellularity in the bone marrow of benzene intoxicated rats. However, treatment with Harungana madagascariensis restored blood hematology and alleviated the blood cell morphological alteration induced by benzene. It also improved plasma redox status, reduced the frequency of micronucleus and improve the architecture of bone marrow cellularity in treated intoxicated rats.
 Conclusion: Harungana madagascariensis protected against benzene-induced hematological alterations leading to pre-leukemic conditions in Wistar rats.