QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF ACETONE LEAF EXTRACT OF SENNA OCCIDENTALIS IN RATS

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate for the possible haematological and biochemical parameters of Senna occidentalis acetone leaf rats. The phytochemical screening of the ethanol leaf extract of Senna occidentalis was determined. A 20 wistar rats of were divided randomly into five groups of 4 rats each. The first group was the control group and fed with equal volume of distilled water, while the other 4 groups were given single daily dose of the acetone extract at different doses (100, 200, 500, and 800 mg kg−1) for 14 days. The observation of acute toxicity effects of the extract on the hematological, liver function (LFT) parameters were reported. The results determined showed that the phytochemical analysis of the acetone leaf extract of Senna occidentalis indicates the quantity of flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins and tannins. Tannin (1.837±0.125) was slightly higher and steroids (0.38±0.17) was slightly low. There were no signs of acute toxicity and no fatality. There was significant increase of the Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) in rats given the extract at dose of 200 and 400 mg kg−1 but not with other doses. Furthermore, lymphocytes, neutrophils hemoglobin and moncocytes were significantly increased in rats given the extract at doses of 100-500 mg kg−1. There were no changes in the level of LFT, except for aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase the were significantly high. In conclusion, this study indicates Senna occidentalis ethanol leaf extract has no acute adverse effects when administered under or equal to the dose of 1000 mg kg−1 body weight. The increase in the RBC, WBC as well as AST and ALP needs further studies at much higher doses.