EFFECTS OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF IPOMOEA BATATAS (SWEET POTATOES) LEAF ON RED BLOOD CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH-COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION (RDW-CV) AND RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH-STANDARD DEVIATION (RDW-SD) OF PLASMODIUM BERGHI INFECTED MICE
Abstract
Malaria still remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world today, causing high morbidity and mortality annually. This study investigated the effects of ethanol extract of Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) leaves on red blood cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) and red cell distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, focusing on mean parasite counts, chemo-suppression percentages, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW-CV and RDW-SD). Five groups of infected mice were treated with different dosages of the extract (20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg) and Artesunate (5 mg/kg), while one group was provided only rat chow. The results revealed a significant reduction in mean parasite counts with increasing doses of the Ethanol Extract, demonstrating its potential efficacy in suppressing parasitic infections. Specifically, Group Three (30 mg/kg) exhibited the lowest mean parasite count (49,132.08 p/µl) and the highest chemo-suppression percentage (66%), highlighting the extract's therapeutic potential. In contrast, the group receiving only rat chow showed a higher mean parasite count (144,213.00 p/µl), underscoring the treatment's importance. In terms of RDW-CV, the highest value was recorded in Group Five (23.567), indicating better red blood cell distribution in the absence of treatment, while the lowest RDW-CV (19.820) was found in Group Three. Similarly, RDW-SD results showed that the group treated with Artesunate had the highest mean (49.467), suggesting improved red blood cell size distribution compared to other treatment groups. However, Group Three (30 mg/kg) exhibited the lowest RDW-SD (41.840), indicating that higher dosages may impact red blood cell size variation. The results indicated that treatment with sweet potato leaf extract significantly reduced RDW-CV (49132.0800 ±56320.58807) compared to the control group (54615.8733 ±40414.92830), and RDW-SD 41.840 ± 9.8040a compared to the control group 49.467 ± 4.3016a suggesting an improvement in erythrocyte homeostasis. They was no significant changes in the Red Blood Cells distribution width-cofficient variation and standard deviation when compared to the control group. Additionally, the extract showed potential in ameliorating anemia associated with malaria infection. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Ipomoea batatas leaves in managing hematological disturbances caused by Plasmodium berghei, warranting further research into their role as a complementary treatment for malaria-induced anemia.
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