International Journal of Medicine Research

Authors
Ekam VS, Ukpanukpong RU, Odio SB, Ihe SO, Ekam NV

Abstract
The haematological changes in malaria infested wistar albino rats treated with the crude extract of Artemisia annua and artemisinin combination therapy was investigated using 24 wistar albino rats weighing between 180 – 220g. The rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as the normal control and received 0.2ml of bottled water, group 2 animals were malaria induced but untreated and received 0.2ml of bottled water, group 3 animals were malaria induced and received ACT (1.142mg/kg body weight), group 4 animals were malaria induced and received the crude extract from Artemisia annua (300mg/kg body weight). The administration was carried out twice a day for three consecutive days. The rats were given free access to food and water. At the end of administration, blood samples were taken through cardiac puncture and the haematological indices, PCV (%), Hb (g/dL), RBC, (x10⁹/L), WBC, (x10⁹/L) and platelets (x10⁹/L) were assayed. From the result, the PCV, Hb and RBC of group 3 showed no significant difference when compared with the control, though the values were non-significantly higher (p>0.05) when compared to group 2. The WBC count showed a significant increase (p<0.05) when compared to group 2 and1 while the platelet count showed a significant difference when compared to group 2 and1. The WBC (13.38±0.55) and platelet (725.00±6.45) counts of group 4 showed a significant difference when compared to group 2 and1; there was a non significant increase in PCV, Hb and RBC count when compared to the control. The results show that ACT and the crude extract of A. annua have no negative effects on the haematological indices and hence the crude extract of A. annua may be recommended for those who cannot have access to the refined artemisinin combination therapy.