Haematopoietic properties of ethanolic leaf extract of ageratum conyzoides (goat weed) in albino rats.

The potential haematological effects associated with the administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides was investigated in rats. 27 rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group had 6 rats and served as control, the remaining 3 experimental groups and had 7 rats each. These later groups were gavaged with the extract of Ageratum conyzoides in concentrations of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively for 30days at a dose of 0.1ml/body weight. The control group was gavaged with 0.9% sodium chloride at a dose of 0.1m1/body weight as placebo. The extract at the doses administered was found to increase in a dose-related fashion PCV and Hb (p for 200mg/kg and p 0.05 for 200mg/kg); MCH and MCV (P P 0.05), similarly, the differential white blood cell recorded marginal increases that were not significant, except lymphocytes that recorded significant increase in group 4 (P observed, these decreases were however not significant. The result of this study thus indicate haematopoietic potentials of the extract and could possibly remedy anaemia.