Anti-haemolytic, anti-anaemic and biosafety examination of combined Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas leaves extract

Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas leaves have traditionally been reported as haematinic and blood boosting agents. This study investigated the effect of polyherbal (Telfairia occidentalis and Ipomoea batatas; 1:1) aqueous leaves extract in chloramphenicol induced haemolysis and biosafety. The plant leaves were collected and extracted by cold maceration with water. The anti-haemolytic and anti-anaemic properties of the leaves were studied using astymine (10 mg/kg, orally) as standard and graded doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally) of the extracts. Results from this study revealed anincrease in the myelo/erythroid ratio, triggered by the polyherbal extracts on the bone marrow cells. Normal morphology of red blood cells was maintained in the treated groups. A significant difference, at p<0.05, existed in the RBC, RDW, HBG and PLT (6.61±0.45, 21.53±2.23, 13.93±1.08 and 36.10±9.22, respectively) when compared with control groups (6.45±0.10, 15.63±0.96, 13.30±0.26 and 25.47±4.55 respectively). Biosafety analysis from the histological study show that the combined extracts exhibited no adverse effects on the various organs. These findings thus justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the plants’ leaves, in the management of anaemia.Keywords: Telfairia occidentalis, Ipomoea batatas, anti-haemolytic, anti-anaemic, AstymineJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 16 No.4 (2019