Abstract

This study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of Waltheria indica leaf on the blood profile of male albino rats. The extract showed significantly (p < 0.01) different increase of red blood and white blood cell counts values at 400 and 800 mg/kg doses. However, the extract showed insignificant difference in packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and haemoglobin concentrations between the control and the treated groups. Result also showed significant increase (p < 0.01) in the values of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine at 800 and 2000 mg/kg doses. W. indica leaf extract also induced periportal cellular infiltration and diffuse hydropic degeneration of the hepatocytes in the liver. The study emphasized the cautious use of W. indica leaf as it may be hepatotoxic at high doses.

Key words: Waltheria indica leaf, blood profile, liver, rats.