THE EFFECT OF DIETARY INCORPORATION OF FICUS GLUMOSA (UBUBA) LEAF ON MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (MCV) AND MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION (MCHC) OF PLASMODIUM BERGHEI-INFECTED MICE.

Malaria-induced anemia poses a significant health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium species. This study investigates the effect of dietary incorporation of Ficus glumosa leaf on Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. The research aims to address the hematological disturbances caused by malaria, particularly the reductions in MCV and MCHC, which signify microcytic and hypochromic anemia. A total of 36 mice were used for the study, 30 of these mice were inoculated with P. berghei . The mice were divided into six groups of 6 mice in each group : three groups (groups 1, 2 and 3) received diets supplemented with 5g, 10g, and 20g of Ficus glumosa leaf respectively, while a control group ( group 6) received normal rat chow, mice in group four were inoculated and treated with Artesunate (5mg/kg body weight. Results demonstrated a dose-dependent response, where treatment with Ficus glumosa significantly improved ( p˂0.05) MCHC, particularly at a 10g dosage (32.783 g/dL). MCV values remained relatively stable across groups. Additionally, the plant exhibited notable anti-malarial effects, with chemo-suppression rates of 61% and 58% for the 5g and 10g doses, respectively. These findings suggest that Ficus glumosa may serve as a complementary therapy in managing malaria-related anemia by enhancing red blood cell function and reducing parasitemia. Future research should focus on optimizing dosage and exploring synergistic effects with conventional antimalarial treatments to improve overall therapeutic outcomes.