Effects of Senna alata Aqueous Extract on the Hematological and Biochemical Alterations in Rats Exposed to N-Nitroso-N-Ethyl Urea

Abstract

The effect of carcinogen exposure has been established to alter biochemical and hematological profiles in humans. Secondary metabolites from plant sources like flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and others have been found to be potent anticancer agents and also investigated to protect against the effect of environmental carcinogens. Female albino rats were rats exposed to freshly prepared 3 fractionated doses of 50 mg/kg N-Nitroso-N-ethyl urea (carcinogen) dissolved in 1/15 M Phosphate buffer, given intraperitoneally and treated with varying concentrations of Senna alata plant aqueous extracts. At the end of the test period, hematological and biochemical parameters were determined in blood and serum samples. Compared to the control group, the carcinogen exposed rats treated group showed significances in several hematological parameters, including decreases in White blood cell (WBC), Red blood cell (RBC), and Platelet (PLT) counts. Furthermore, in comparison to the control group, the carcinogen exposed rats showed significantly increased blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), triacylglycerols levels and High density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) level. The hematological and biochemical parameters in the carcinogen exposed rats treated group were approximately similar to control group. The S. alata extract significantly (P<0.05) restored the hematological and biochemical parameters in N-Nitroso-N-ethyl urea carcinogen exposed rats