Phytochemicals and Haematological Studies of Aqueous Crude Extract of Whole Plant of Euphorbia heterophylla Administered to Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Changes in blood parameters are often triggered when toxic doses of plant extracts are administered to animals thereby calling for the haematological studies. Standard techniques were used for the phytochemical and haematological studies. Tannins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, reducing sugars and saponins were found in the aqueous crude extract obtained from Euphorbia heterophylla. Dosage increment of the aqueous extract from 10-600 mg/kgbw led to increments in all the haematological parameters (Total white blood cell, red blood cell, packed cell volume, red blood indices, platelets and differential white blood cell) checked in the blood of the experimental Wistar albino rat.The implication of this study is that the extractcan be used as therapeutic agents and the haematological parameters were dose-dependent.