Gonglonema latifolium is a climbing perennial plant that belongs to
the family of asclepidaceae. The medicinal uses of the leaves and stem
bark extract of Gonglonema latifolium has been reported in many
scientific literatures to include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcerative
etc. There is paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties
of the root extract. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the
phytochemical constituents and effect of ethanolic root extract of
Gonglonema latifolium on some hematological parameters. Eighteen (18)
albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each.
Group 1 (control) was fed on normal rat chow + drinking water, the test
groups (group 2 and 3) in addition received extract treatment (p.o) at
a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens
lasted for 14 days. Results show that the extract contains polyphenols,
glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The mean RBC count for
control was 4.44 ± 0.15 x 106 cells/mm3, this did not differ
significantly from the test groups. The total WBC counts were 3.79
± 0.15 x 103 cells/mm3 , 3.37 ± 0.19 x 103 cells/mm3 and 5.54
± 0.39 x 103 cells/mm3 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. WBC
was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the high dose (group 3)
compared with control. Mean PCV (%) were 33.60 ± 0.81, 37.20
± 0.80 and 34.80 ± 1.35 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
The PCV was significantly (P<0.05) higher in low dose extract
recipients (group 2) than in control. Hb content, MCV and MCH did not
differ significantly among the groups, but MCHC was significantly lower
in the test groups compared with control group. Neutrophils were
significantly (P<0.001) reduced in the test groups, while the
eosinophils and monocytes count were significantly increased in the
test groups than in controls. In conclusion, the extract has little or
no effect on RBC count, PCV, MCV and MCH. But low doses of the extract
significantly increased the Hb count while high doses significantly
increased WBC count, probably due to increase in eosinophil and
monocyte counts. MCHC was dose-dependently reduced. The extract was
also observed to contain polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides and
reducing sugars