Annual Research & Review in Biology

Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cells count is less than normal. This study looked at the effect of Talinum triangulare extract (TTE) on phenylhydrazine (PHZ) induced anemic Wistar rats. 30 Female Wistar rats grouped into 5 rats per group were used; group 1 was given 100mg TTE, group 2, 200mg TTE, group 3, 300mg TTE, group 4, 400mg TTE, group 5, administered Bunto blood tonic and group 6, normal saline (control). PHZ was administered to rats intraperitoneally (IP) at a dose of 40 mg/kg of body for two consecutive days. Treatment began after it was certified that the rats were anemic, with packed cell volume  (PCV%) of anemic rats taken 24 hours post induction with PHZ. After induction, rats on 400 mg TTE showed the greatest increase in the mean values for PCV count of 41.8%, 41.8% and 45.8% respectively, when compared to the anemic control group with p<0.05. There was increase in PCV% of groups 2 and 3 rats and no increase was shown for groups 1 and 4 on 21^st day and 28^th day of administration of TTE. The mean values of PCV were not significantly different between the groups treated with 400mg TTE, 300mg TTE, 200mg TTE, or 100mgTTE. Histo-pathological changes in the liver and kidney of rats treated with TTE following PHZ induction, revealed kidneys of rats in groups 1-3 showed normal reticulocyte architecture, while those in groups 4 and 5 showed mild degenerative vacuolation. The liver, showed mild necrotic changes in the hepatocytes. This study showed that the mean packed cell volume (PCV) significantly increased after TTE administration, indicating the anti-anemic potentials of TTE noting varied efficacy levels post-treatment. The study showed Talinum triangulare as a futuristic medicinal plant in the management of anaemia.