Vol. 15 No. 61- 72 (2024): Effect of Extract of Senna alata (Candle bush Plant) on Some Haematological Indices of Wistar rats Infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Senna alata on some haematological
indices of wistar rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Sofowora methods were
employed for phytochemical analysis to detect the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins,
flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenols steroids/terpenes and glycosides. Results revealed the
absence of steroids in all extracts, absence of saponins in petroleum ether and chloroform
extracts, absence of flavonoids only in petroleum ether extracts and presence of free
anthraquinones only in chloroform extract. Post infection treatment of animals stirred the
emergence of parasitaemia by Day 3. Only wistar rats receiving 200mg/kgb.wt of chloroform
extract survived by day 16. PCV and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) decreased significantly
(P<0.05) for the infected not treated group. Also, Infected-treated groups recorded the lowest
PCV (30.4%) and Hb (10.1g/dl) in wistar rats receiving aqueous extract on day 12. Highest
change in WBC (from 6.2X 103 /μl to 1.32X 104 /μl) was recorded in group receiving
200mg/kgb.wt of chloroform extract.. These results thereby demonstrate ameliorative
potentials of the extracts of Senna alata extract in some haematological indices of wistar rats
infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Keywords: Trypanosomiasis, Phytochemicals,
Haematology, Senna alata