Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Datura stramonium is a well-known medicinal plant with a long history of outstanding therapeutic applications, toxic properties as well as mind altering potentials. This 21-day research was aimed to explore the effects of varying doses of the plant's crude ethanolic leaf extract on certain physiological and hematological parameters due to adverse effects attributed to its common misuse. Twenty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rats each for oral administration of the extract: control group (no extract), low, medium, and high dosage groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of extract, respectively). Standard laboratory techniques were used for physiological and hematological analyses. In the low dose test group, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in final body weight and blood glucose concentration compared to the control group. Hematological analysis showed no significant (p>0.05) changes in most Red Blood Cell (RBC) differentials, except for a significant (p<0.05) increase in Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) in the low dose group. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the high dose group. Platelet concentration significantly (p<0.05) increased in the high dose group, while Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) showed no significant (p>0.05) changes in all test groups compared to the control. Notably, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in monocytes and granulocytes in the medium dose group. This suggests that the rise in white blood cells, specifically lymphocytes, was due to increased production rather than an immune response. These results provide insights into the physiological and hematological effects of Datura stramonium extract, highlighting its potential therapeutic uses and emphasizing careful exploration of its immunomodulatory properties for improved medical interventions.