Haemopoietic activity and effect of Crude Fruit Extract of Phoenix dactylifera on Peripheral Blood Parameters

a b b b b c Aim: Phoenix dactylifera (date palm), has been reported to posses a variety of pharmacological activities which indicate its usefulness in various kinds of diseases and disorders. The present study was aimed at investigating the haemopoietic activity of crude fruit extract of Phoenix dactylifera (P. dactylifera) and its effect on peripheral blood parameters. Method: Fifty (50) Wistar rats weighing 100 to 200 grams and aged 2 to 3 months obtained from the Animal House of College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus were acclimatized for two weeks. They were divided into 10 groups of 5 rats per group labeled A1 ,A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1 and E2. The first 5 groups were orally administered with graded doses of the crude Aqueous Extract of P. Dactylifera (AEPD) (A1=0.4, B1=0.1, C1=0.52, D1=0.90 mg/kg body weight and E1 [control]= 0.24ml Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) while the second 5 groups were orally administered with graded doses of the crude Methanolic Extract of P. Dactylifera (MEPD) (A2=0.4, B2=0.1, C2=0.52, D2=0.90 mg/kg body weight and E2[control]=0.24ml DMSO). The administrations were once daily for 112 days. On Day 113, 2.5ml of blood samples were collected from each rat through the retro bulbar plexus of the median canthus of the eye into tri-potassium-Ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (K3-EDTA) anticoagulant container and bone marrow was also collected for the analysis using stantard operative procedure. Results: The results revealed dosage dependent significant increase in Absolute values, Red Blood Cell (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Reticulocytes and Platelet count in both aqueous and methanolic extract when compared with the controls (p<0.05, p<0.001). The total and differential white blood cell counts and bone marrow examination did not differ significantly when compared with the controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: The observed changes in this study has demonstrated that P. Dactylifera has haemopoietic effect when orally administered in Wistar rats.