Anti-anaemia Potential and Safety of Morinda lucida Leaf Extracts in Balbc Mice Induced with Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells

Anaemia, a major health challenge, results from factors including dietary deficiencies and malaria. Although reports from previous studies show that Morinda lucida is effective in the treatment of anaemia resulting from these conditions, little information exist to suggest its beneficial effects in treating anaemia resulting from cancer. This study therefore examined the anti-anaemia potential of M. lucida leaf extracts in Balb/c mice inoculated with rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Forty mice inoculated intra-peritoneally with RD cells were randomly divided into eight groups: A (untreated); Treatment groups —B1, B2 and B3 (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg aqueous M. lucida extracts respectively); C1, C2 and C3 (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg M. lucida ethanolic extracts respectively) and D (Cisplatin). The mice were treated for 2 weeks and thereafter, blood samples were collected through the orbital sinus for haematological and serum biochemical analyses. Compared with group A (3.25 ± 0.03), ethanolic leaf extracts of M. lucida 3 increased white blood cell count (x10 ul) significantly (p?0.05) in groups C1, C2, and C3 (5.45 ±0.03, 6.00 ±0.05, and 5.60 ±0.10 respectively) but there was no significant increase of the packed cell volume in groups C and D. Compared with group A, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly lowerin all treatment groups, and alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP) significantly lower in group B. The treatments therefore did not improve all haematological parameters in RD cell-bearing mice but elicited increased immune responses, were safe at the doses administered and consequently may be beneficial in cancer therapy.