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ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Abelmoschus esculentus on the bone marrow and blood as it relates to histological features and haematological parameters in adult Wistar rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing between 154-228g were used for this study. The rats were randomly assigned into four groups of five rats per group and were orally treated as follows: Group A served as the control group and was given standard feed and water ad libitum. Group B animals were administered 125mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus. Group C animals were administered 250mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus and Group D animals were administered 500mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus. The experimental period lasted for 56 days and at its end, the animals were weighed and sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and the femurs were excised and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological evaluation. The result showed that the aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus caused significant body weight gain in Groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant body weight increase in Groups C and D (P>0.05). This was determined by comparing the initial and final body weights during the course of the experiment. For the bone marrow histology, the rats in Group A(control group) showed fats cells occupying about 35% and the myeloid-erythroid series occupying about 65% of the bone marrow. The rats in Group B showed the fats cells occupying about 20-25% and the myeloid-erythroid series occupying 75-80% of the bone marrow. The rats in Group C showed the fat cells occupying about 15% and the myeloid-erythroid series occupying about 85% of the bone marrow. The rats in Group D showed the fat cells and myeloid-erythroid series both occupying about 50% each of the bone marrow. Haematologically, there were no statistically significant changes (P>0.05) in the number of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and platelets across the groups when compared to the control. There were also no statistically significant changes (P>0.05) in the plateletcrit and mean corpuscular volume across the groups when compared to the control. When compared with the control, there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in the number of red blood cells in Groups B and C only. For the haemoglobin levels, there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in Groups B and C only when compared to the control. For the haematocrit value, there were statistically significant increases (P<0.05) in Groups B and C only when compared to the control. For the mean corpuscular haemoglobin, there were significant increases (P<0.05) in Groups B and C only when compared to the control. For the mean platelet volume, there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in Group B only when compared to the control. It is noteworthy from this study that 125mg/kg body weight and 250mg/kg body weight doses of aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus significantly increased haematopoiesis, specifically erythropoiesis in the bone marrow of adult wistar rats and increased red blood cells and haemoglobin levels in the blood. It however did not have significant effects in lymphopoiesis, granulopoiesis and monocytopoiesis, thereby not playing a significant role in immunity.
