Antianaemic property of Ficus capensis leaves and its combination with Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaves in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats

Introduction: Anemia is a common health condition caused by a decrease in red blood cells. Some medicinal plants are used as a remedy to treat anemia. This study compares the anti-anemic properties of different doses of the aqueous extracts of Ficus capensis (AEFC) and its combination with the aqueous extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (AECA) in phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats. Methods: Anemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ۲۰ mg/kg phenylhydrazine for five consecutive days. Graded doses of the extracts were given by oral gavage once a day continuously for ۳۰ days. At the end of the treatment, blood was collected for hematological analysis. Results: The antianemic effects of AEFC and its combination with AECA were demonstrated by significant increases (P < ۰.۰۵) in the hemoglobin (HGB), packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count of the extract-treated groups compared to the anemic control group. There was a better increase in the HGB levels of a combination of ۴۰۰ mg/kg AEFC + AECA (۱۳.۹۷ ± ۲.۵۳) compared to ۴۰۰ mg/kg AEFC (۱۲.۰۶ ± ۰.۰۲). The PCV increased more in ۴۰۰ mg/kg combination of AEFC + AECA (۴۱.۹۴ ± ۰.۳۷) compared to ۴۰۰ mg/kg AEFC (۳۶.۳۱ ± ۱.۵۱). A significant (P < ۰.۰۵) increase was observed in the RBC count of a combination of ۴۰۰ mg/kg AEFC + AECA (۶.۳۶±۰.۵۱) compared to ۴۰۰ mg/kg AEFC (۴.۷۵ ± ۰.۴۶). Conclusion: Although AEFC improved the haematological parameters of the animals when administered alone, its combination with AECA yielded a far much better result by totally restoring the haematological parameters of the phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats to normal.