An In Vivo Study of the Influence of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Katsubong (Datura Metel Var. Fastuosa L.) On Platelet Count and other Hematological Parameters of Albino Mice (Mus Musculus)
Kristel Cassandra Remedios | Sara Nhelen Biag | Patrizia Angela Claudio | Mariegold Ann Japitana | Alfie Gardose
Discipline: Animal Science
Abstract:
Datura metel var. fastuosa L. is traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, yet its effects on
hematological parameters and toxicity remain underexplored. This quantitative study evaluated the impact of
Katsubong ethanolic leaf extract on platelet count, red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and
hemoglobin levels in mice. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed using male albino mice treated
with extract doses of 0.1 mL, 0.2 mL, and 0.3 mL. Hematological parameters were measured pre- and post-treatment
using a veterinary hematology analyzer. The extract appeared to increase platelet counts in a dose-dependent manner,
with the 0.1 mL dose showing slight improvement, 0.2 mL producing a more noticeable increase, and 0.3 mL showing
the most significant rise, particularly in R2 and R3. Despite this trend, the control and treatment groups for pre- and
post-extraction platelet counts revealed a mean increase from 161.78 to 385.89. However, the two-tailed p-value of
0.143 and the t Stat of -2.349 in the paired two-sample t-test were above the 0.05 significance level. Thus, the null
hypothesis was accepted, indicating no statistically significant difference in platelet counts. Hemoglobin levels
improved across all treatments, with Treatments 1 and 2 showing the greatest increases. The WBC counts rose in
Treatments 1 and 3, while RBC counts varied, with a decrease observed in Treatment 2. For toxicity testing, the Brine
Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) was conducted by exposing Artemia salina nauplii to varying extract concentrations,
and LC?? values were interpreted using Clarkson’s criteria. Results showed that the Katsubong extract exhibited low
toxicity. These findings suggest Katsubong extract may influence platelet and hemoglobin levels. However, the
observed inconsistencies and lack of statistical significance highlight the need for further studies on its therapeutic
potential.
References:
- Andrade, C. (2019). The p-value and statistical significance: Misunderstandings, explanations, challenges, and alternatives. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 41(3), 210–215. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_193_19
- Clemen-Pascual, L. M. (2021). Safety and efficacy of herbal medicine: Analytical approaches and regulatory framework. Journal of Herbal Science, 12(2), 89–98
- Clemen-Pascual, L. M. (2021). Evaluation of plant-based compounds in hematological research: A systemic review. Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 15(3), 150–162. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356930197
- Eske, J. (2023). In vivo research: Importance and ethical considerations. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/in-vivo
- Ewumi, O. (2023). Toxicological evaluation of medicinal plants: A review on hematological parameters. Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology, 12(2), 88–96. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8082237/
- International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals. (2024, April 4). COUNCIL for INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS of MEDICAL SCIENCES. https://cioms.ch/publications/product/international-guiding-principles
- Katoch, D., Thakur, N., & Mehta, S. (2024). Phytochemical toxicity and therapeutic window of alkaloid-containing medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 299, 115702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115702
- Kim, T. (2022). Thrombocytopenia: Causes and diagnosis. Hematology and Oncology Clinics of North America, 36(2), 151–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hoc.2021.10.005
- McCrae, K. R. (2017). Immune thrombocytopenia: Pathophysiology and clinical update. Hematology 2017, the American Society of Hematology Education Program Book, 2017(1), 373–379. https://doi.org/10.1182/asheducation-2017.1.373
- Osman, A. M., & Omar, N. M. (2019). Brine shrimp lethality bioassay as a preliminary tool for assessing toxicity of plant extracts. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 9(8), 370–374. https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.263735
- Sharma, R. (2021). Applications of Artemia salina in cytotoxicity screening. Biology Bulletin Reviews, 11(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086421010089.
- Shivdasani, R. A. (2001). Molecular biology of megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet formation. Current Opinion in Hematology, 8(3), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.1097/00062752-200105000-00006