Hematological Markers of In Vivo Toxicity

In modern medical practice, toxicity studies are essential in assessment of safety of extracts or drugs used in clinical medicine. The interaction of the toxin or its metabolite with cellular constituents may bring about significant changes in hematological parameters. These alterations may be rapid or slow and often cause a change in structure and function of the affected tissues. In clinical laboratory setting these blood indices are assayed for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease, and for greater understanding of the disease process. Therefore, assessment of hematological indices can be diagnostic of adverse effects of foreign compounds on the blood constituents since such hematological alterations have higher predictive value for human toxicity when the data are interpreted from animal studies.