HEMOPOIETIC EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF THE LEAF SHEATH OF SORGHUM BICOLOR IN ALBINO RATS

The effect of an aqueous extract of the leaf sheath of Sorghum bicolor on hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was investigated in 50 albino rats. The rats were in 5 groups of 10 animals per group. The firs group is the control and the 4 other groups were the experimental. These latter groups were given oral treatments of the sorghum extract in concentrations of 200mg/kg, 400ng/kg, 800mg/kg and 1,600mg/kg respectively for 16 days. Blood analysis was done at the end of 16 days. The extract of the leaf sheath of sorghum increased in a dose dependent manner Hb (P < 0.05), RBC (P < 0.05), PCV (P < 0.05) and MCH (P < 0.001). It however caused a decrease in MCV (P < 0.05 and MCH (P < 0.05).. The result of this study thus supports the traditional use of sorghum bicolor as a remedy for anemia