EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF PILIOSTIGMA THONNINGII LEAF ON HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE IN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED IMMUNO SUPPRESSED RATS

Cyclophosphamide, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, causes immunosuppression and hematological abnormalities. This study investigated the potential of Piliostigma thonningii leaf extract (ELEPT) to mitigate cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression and hematological toxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male rats were divided into five groups and treated for 14 days. The experimental rats were randomly divided into five (5) groups, with five (5) animals per group and treated for a period of fourteen (14) days. Group A: NC (normal control). Group B: immune compromised rats (induced with cyclophosphamide) without treatment (immune compromised control). Group C: Immune compromised rats treated with immunal (Standard control). Group D: Immune compromised rats treated with 200 mg/kg bwt ethanol leaf extract P.thonningiiextract (ELEPT1). Group E: immune compromised rats with 200 mg/kg bwt ethanol leaf extract Pthonningiiextract (ELEPT?2). Cyclophosphamide (10 mg/kg bwt) induced immunosuppression, while ELEPT (200 and 400 mg/kg bwt) significantly increased white blood cell count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and red blood cell parameters (RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV). The extract also showed no significant difference in MCH and MCHC compared to the normal control. These findings suggest that P. thonningii leaf extract possesses immunomodulatory and hematopoietic properties, potentially mitigating cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity.