Evaluation of haematological changes in Entamoeba histolytica-infected rats administered with extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves

This study was designed to evaluate the changes in some heamatological parameters of Entamoeba histolytica-infected rats treated with ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leave at 500mg/kg-1 body weight/day, while a standard antiamoebic drug, metronidazole, at a dose of 500mg/kg-1 body weight was administered on the positive control group for 10 days. The negative control group was uninfected and untreated. The haematological parametrats in the different groups were monitored throughout the period of study which was 10 days on three stages. The results show a significant increase at P<0.05 in red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), procalcitonin test (PCT) and total white blood cell (WBC) in groups which treated with Z. mauritiana extracts compare with metronidazole drug and the control group during treatment stages. While the results show a significant decrease at P<0.05 in platelet (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), monocyte (MO) and granulocytes (GR) when compared to the control groups of rats. The results also indicate no significant changes at P>0.05 in mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and count lymphocyte (LY) during treatment stages. Conclusion: The findings of this study, that the efficiency of Z. mauritiana extracts in improving blood standards through variations occurring in blood proportion and not adversely affect the haematological parameters.