Bankole E. Ofeniforo, Olalekan B. Ogunro, David C. Nwikwe, Babamotemi O. Itakorode, Samuel E. Agada, Olakorode J. Ojo
Background: Spilanthes filicaulis has been and still in used in traditional medicine for the management of fever and malaria associated conditions. Objective: This present study was done to quantify the phytochemical constituents and investigate the in-vivo haematological profile of Rattus norvegicus orally exposed to ethyl acetate fraction of Spilanthes filicaulis (EFSF). Methods: Phytoconstituents present were quantified using standard methods. Seventy-two male albino R. norvegicus (148 ± 8.0 g mean weight) were randomly assigned to six of twelve rats each. Group I was the control group while test groups II-VI received oral dose of 62.50, 125, 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg EFSF extract daily for 14 and 28 days. Blood were collected inside an ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) bottles for haematological assessment from six rats in each group on day 14th and 28th. Results: EFSF extract contained steroids (71.29 ± 0.86), glycosides (5.38 ± 0.27), flavonoids (127.30 ± 1.03), terpenoids (28.72 ± 0.39), tannins (1.24 ± 0.05), saponin (1.83 ± 0.07) and alkaloids (46.27 ± 1.05). Significant differences (p>0.05) was not observed at most of the haematological indices in the test groups relative to normal control after 14 days oral exposure. However, there were significant difference (p<0.05) in most haematological indices after 28 days oral exposure. Conclusion: Findings from EFSF study unveiled the extract did not cause marked alterations in the evaluated haematological parameters when compared to the control which infer it’s relatively safeness. The high flavonoid/steroid content may contribute to erythrocyte-membrane protection through antioxidant activity which aligns with the maintained haematological stability.