EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE LEAF OF Ficus exasperata ON HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN ALBONO MICE EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH Plasmodium berghei (NK 65)

The effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaf of Ficus exasperata on haematological parameters in albino mice experimentally infected with Plasmodium berghei (NK 65) was investigated. Thirty six mice were divided into six groups of six mice each. Groups A1, A2 and A3 were infected with the parasite and administered with 200, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract of Ficus exasperata respectively for six consecutive days. Control groups D, G and H were used. Groups D and G were infected and administered with 5 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine and distilled water respectively. Group H was not infected and was not administered with any extract. The mice were sacrificed after six days and blood collected for haematological study. The results indicated an increase in the mean values of red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) and Haemoglobin (Hb) at all the dose levels administered. At a higher dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, these values were statistically significant (P= .05). There was no significant difference (P= .05) in the level of mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and platelet (PLT) of treated mice at various dose levels across the treatment groups. There was a significant (P= .05) increase in the levels of white blood cell (WBC) at all the dose. The above result indicated that ethanolic extract of the leaf of F. exasperata increased some haematological parameters that were affected by malaria infection in mice.