Haemostatic and Haematological Studies of Aqueous Extract of Bidens Pilosa in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) also known as hairy beggar ticks, common names include; ‘Ogwunma’; 'Gyeya'(Igbo, Birom, Nigeria) and is one of the medicinal plant species worldwide. Among the Birom tribes in Plateau State, Nigeria Bidens pilosa is used as vegetable to prepare the local delicacy called ghote and also the sap from crushed leaves is used to speed up clotting of blood in fresh wounds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Bidens pilosa leaves on selected haemostatic and haematological profile in Wistar rats. Phytochemical tests were carried out on Bidens pilosa leave extract (BPLE) to detect the presence of metabolites. Lorke’s method was employed for Acute Toxicity studies to determine the LD50 of the B.pilosa extract while in sub-chronic toxicity study, graded doses of BPLE ranging 200-800 mg/kg b.w and distilled water were orally administered daily for 28 days. Sample collection of rats was done prior to administration of extract (Day 0) for base line studies and on days 14 and 28 for evaluation and monitoring of the effect of the aqueous extract of B.Pilosa on some selected haemostatic and haematological profile. The haemostatic profile was determined using Prothrombin Time Test(PTT),Activated Partial thromboplatin Time (APTT) and Thrombin Time Test(TT). The haematological profile was determined using Auto Haematology Analyser BC280 Vet. The BPLE was found to contain some metabolites such as flavonoids, cardiac glycosides ,saponins, tannins carbohydrates and alkaloids. No mortality was recorded during the studies in rats. Generally, significant increase at P<0.05 in percentage body weight gain was recorded between day 14 and day 28 along each group. The result also showed that the BPLE significantly(P<0.05) increased Prothrombin time(PT) on day 14 amongst rats treated with 800mg/kg when compared to 400mg/kg group where a significant reduction of PT was noticed.However it was observed that BPLE significantly(P<0.05) decreased APTT on day 28 among the 800mg/kg group compared to 400mg/kg group. There was a significant(P<0.05) increase in Thrombin Time(TT) at dose 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg when compared with control and 200mg/kg groups.So this is an indication that Bidens pilosa extract has the potential to cause changes on some extrinsic factors and common pathway of clotting factors such as factors I,II and XII when administered at higher dose. This implies that Bidens pilosa extract has some anticoagulation properties with respect to PT and TT assay in rats that received 800mg/dl of extract.A significant decrease in APTT values recorded especially on day 14 among all the groups that received Bidens pilosa could be attributed to increased activities of some intrinsic factors, suggestive of the procoagulation property of the aqueous extract. However, haemostatic activities of BPL are both dose and dosage dependant. It was observed that there was no significant difference in levels of red blood cell counts in all the groups at p<0.05.For haemoglobin (HB) and haematocrit (HCT) concentrations, a significant(P<0.05) decrease was recorded in rats that received 800mg/kg of BPL when compared with rats that were treated with 400mg/kg of BPLE. Also,MCV and MCH, significantly(P<0.05) decrease in values among rats that received 800mg/kg of extract when compared to 400mg/kg group.A significant (P<0.05) decrease in MCV and MCH values were noted at dose of 200mg/kg when compared with control and 400mg/dl groups respectively. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in WBC among 200mg/kg group compared to control group. However, there were no significant changes in WBC indices amongst other groups. It can be concluded that BPLE on the Pleateau in Nigeria contains bioactive molecules and exerts some haemostatic and haematological changes in Wistar rats.