Evaluation of Haemopoietic Parameters of Selected Ethnomedicinal Remedies

Abstract

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion people, or 30% of the world's population, are affected by anaemia. In low- and middle-income countries, the prevalence of anaemia is highest among women of reproductive age and young children, with estimates suggesting that up to 60% of pregnant women and nearly 50% of preschool children suffer from anaemia.Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the haemopoietic parameters of four traditionally used blood building plants; Justicia carnea, Jathropha tanjorensis, Sorghum bicolor and Tetracera alnifolia; whose anti-anaemic parameters have not been compared.Method: The crude extracts were obtained by macerating 100g of each plant sample in methanol and dichloromethane, followed by concentrating the extracts using a rotary evaporator and drying in a desiccator. Phytochemical screening, elemental analysis, vitamin B3, B6, B12 analysis and GC-MS were carried out on the plant samples; J. tanjorensis, J. carnea, S. bicolor and T. alnifolia.Results: Phytochemical screening showed the presence of Triterpenoids, Flavonoids, Tannins, saponins, Phlobatamins, Anthraquinones, Cardiac glycosides, Steroids, Carbohydrates, and proteins. GC-MS analysis revealed some compounds.Conclusion: A comparison of the concentrations of the mineral and vitamins analysed revealed that J. tanjorensis had high concentrations of copper, iron and zinc, but was not statistically significant compared to the other plants investigated. The results obtained from the analysis of the vitamins, showed that Sorghum bicolor had high concentrations of vitamins: B3, B6 and B12 to the plants. Also. vitamin B3 was significantly higher at p<0.05 in Sorghum bicolor. The findings from this study showed that the investigated plants are suitable candidates for the development of blood building medications and their use in traditional settings as blood tonics is warranted. Furthermore, Sorghum bicolor is the most promising of the four medicinal plants as a candidate for further therapeutic studies.