Aqueous extracts of processed Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds attenuate haemolytic anaemia in Wistar albino rats

Anaemia is a haematological disorder characterized by reduced red blood cells (RBCs) or haemoglobin (HB) or lowered ability of blood to carry oxygen leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The anti-anaemic potential of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds (HSS) was evaluated in this study. One-hundred and eighty (180) adult albino rats were divided into twelve groups with three replicates of 5 rats each (n =15) and designated as Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 (positive control, treated with standard drug), Group 3 (negative control, untreated) and Groups 4 – 6 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of raw, HSS respectively), Groups 7 – 9 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of boiled HSS respectively) and Groups 10 – 12 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of fermented HSS respectively). The acute toxicity test revealed no toxic effect of HSS at 5000 mg.kg -1 and haemolytic anaemia was induced with 350 mg.kg -1 b.w of Zidovudine. After 28 days of extract administration, the animals were humanely sacrificed and blood samples collected for haematological analysis using Automated Haematology Analyzer. RBC count, HB concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (p<0.05) after Zidovudine  induction, but the aqueous extracts of raw, boiled and fermented HSS significantly (p<0.05) increased HB, RBC, PCV, white blood cells  (WBC) and neutrophil levels when compared with negative control. The results suggest that aqueous extracts of HSS attenuated  hematological indices by increasing RBC and haemoglobin production and could be utilized in management of anaemia. Keywords: Anti-anaemia, Haematology, Haemoglobin, Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds, Red blood cells, Zidovudin