Investigation into the effect of ethanol leaf extract and fractions of Justicia Secunda on platelets and WBC counts in mice

Aim: This study investigated the effect of the ethanol leaf extract and fractions of Justicia secunda on platelets and WBC counts in mice.

Methods: Phytochemical analysis were carried out on the ethanol leaf extract of justicia secunda. A total of 96 apparently healthy mice of different sex were used in this study. Fourteen treated and two control groups of six mice each were used to investigate the effect of leaf extract and fractions of justicia secunda on platelets and white blood cell counts in mice (Groups 1-12) using 20mg/kg/i.p. phenyl-hydrazine (PHZ) daily for 2 days, and then intervention with ethanol extract and 3 fractions (n-hexane, ethylacetate and n-butanol) for 6 days. The positive control group received 20 mg/kg PHZ i.p. only, while the negative control group received food and water only. Blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexuses of the mice into EDTA-containing specimen bottles on the 7th day and analyzed for white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) count.

Results: The ethanol leaf extract significantly decreased the platelets and white blood cell count compared to the negative control groups (p< 0.05), they were almost brought back to normal(baseline).The fractions (n-hexane MD, ethyl acetate HD and n-butanol HD) had statistical significant effect on WBC (p< 0.009) in a dose dependent manner. Some of the fractions of J. secunda however had no significant effect on platelets counts (p > 0.146) compared with the control.

Conclusion: n-butanol fraction of J. secunda leaf possessed better significant effect on WBC when compared with other fractions, thus, perhaps eliciting immunosuppresant action in the mice.