Erythropoietic potential of Parquetina nigrescens in cephalosporin-induced anaemia model

Parquetina nigrescens is a folklore plant in Africa, particularly Nigeria, where its consumption is believed to stimulate red blood cells production. On this basis, the erythropoietic potential of the plant was evaluated in Cephalosporin-induced anaemia model, using Wistar rats as experimental subjects. Thirty-two male rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8). Group 1 animals served as control, and experimental anaemia was induced in other groups of animals via oral administration of cephalosporin (10 mg/kg BW) for a period of seven days. Animals in groups III and IV were treated orally with aqueous extract of P. nigrescens at respective dosage of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW, twice daily for a period of 10 days; while group II animals were left untreated. All animals were thereafter fasted overnight and sacrificed by cervical decapitation. Blood was collected via the retro-orbital sinus and used for biochemical analyses. The results obtained showed that cephalosporin effectively induced anaemia as evidenced by significant changes in erythropoietic indices of the untreated anaemic animals. Treatment of anaemic animals with P. nigrescens particularly at a dosage of 250 mg/kg BW significantly (P˂0.05) boosted the levels of RBC (35.8%), Hb (25.2%), PCV (39.4%), cobalt (70.9%), vitamin C (82.6%), and concomitantly decreased erythropoietin level (18%) relative to untreated anaemic animals. The observations made in this study support the local use of Parquetina nigrescens as blood tonic and therapy for anaemia. The botanical may therefore be a useful supplement for patients placed on antibiotics which are often associated with haemolysis.