African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 833-837, August 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Haematinic activity of Hibiscus Cannabinus

Gabriel A. Agbor^1*, Julius E. Oben ², Jeanne Y. Ngogang ³

¹Centre of Research on Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, P.O Box 6163, Yaounde, Cameroon.

²Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.

³Department of Physiological Science, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.

*Corresponding author.  E-mail: agogae@yahoo.fr.

Accepted 8 March, 2005

The haematinic activity of an orally administered aqueous extract of Hibiscus cannabinus leaves was studied on haemolytic anaemic rats. Anaemia was induced by an oral administration of phenylhydrazine for a period of 8 days. Red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and pack cell volume were analysed as indices of anaemia. The mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration were calculated accordingly. Phenylhydrazine induced a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the blood parameters indicating anaemia and also resulted to significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell volume values, which are indicators of macrocytosis. Leaf extract of H. cannabinus induced a significant (P<0.05) increase in the red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and pack cell volume which had been originally decreased by phenylhydrazine administration within one week of treatment. The presence of macrocytosis turn towards normal as the animals recovered from anaemic condition. The results obtained suggested that H. cannabinus leaves may have haematinic properties.

Key words: Haematinic activity, Hibiscus cannabinus, haemolytic anaemia, phenylhydrazine.