Abstract This study was designed to examine the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus on hematological indices of wistar rats. Treatment was carried out using 20 rats divided into four groups of 5 rats each. Group I served as control and received only feed and water, while groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 600,800 and 1000mg/kg body weight of extract respectively. At the end of the 14th day of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their blood samples collected in an EDTA container for hematological indices using an automated cell counter. The results showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in Red blood cells, Packed cell volume, and Hemoglobin in the rats administered with 600mg/kg b.wt and 800mg/kg b.wt of the extract. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) of White Blood Cells in the 600mg/kg b.wt rats but a decrease in the rats given 1000mg/kg b.wt of the extract when compared to the control. A significant decrease in granulocyte was observed of the rats administered with the extract when compared to the control while the number of lymphocytes increased. The values of Mean corpuscular volume, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and platelet show significant increases (p<0.05) in the rats administered with the extract when compared to the control. From these observations, it may be inferred that the ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus is not toxic hence it stimulated erythropoeisis, immune state of the body and can aid in blood clotting on prolonged administration. With all these stimulatory activities, it can therefore be concluded that the plant may be of benefit in the management of hematological disorders.
Keywords Cymbopogon citratus, hematological, hemopoeisis, immune, clotting.