Abstract

The potential effect(s) of 14 days oral administration of methanolic stem bark and fruit extracts of Ficus sur on some haematological parameters in anaemic rats was investigated. 36 rats weighing 130-150g were randomly assigned into 9 groups of 4 rats each. Hemolytic anaemia was experimentally induced in group 1 to 8 by daily oral administration of Phenylhydrazine (PHZ) at a dose of 10 mg/Kg for 8 days, except for group 9 which served as the zero control (non-anaemic). Post-induction, 50 mg/Kg, 100 mg/Kg and 150 mg/Kg of methanolic stem bark and fruit extracts of Ficus sur were administered to rats in group 1-3 and group 4-6, respectively. Group 7 which received 50 mg/Kg of FeSO4 served as the positive control, while group 8 which received no treatment served as the negative control (anaemic) group. The Mean±SEM Haematocrit and Haemoglobin concentration of both methanolic stem bark and fruit extracts of F. sur were found to be significantly higher than the negative control and lower than the positive control, at P<0.001, except for the 100 mg/Kg fruit extract at P<0.05 and P>0.05, respectively. While, the Mean±SEM Red Blood Cell Count of all the extracts treated groups were found to be significantly higher than the negative control at P<0.001. Furthermore, there was no significance difference (P>0.05) between the Mean±SEM White Blood Cell Count of all the extracts treated groups and the positive control, except for the negative control in which significant increase (P<0.001) was observed. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of tannin, flavonoid, terpenoid and saponin, while alkaloid, glycoside and anthraquinone were absent in both. The results of this study further underscore the claim made by some traditional healers that extracts of Ficus sur possess haemantic properties, hence can be used in the treatment of anaemia.