Effect of Ashwagandharishta on the Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices of male and female Albino rats

Abstract

RBC indices are part of a complete blood count (CBC) that classify red blood cells by size and hemoglobin content to diagnose types of anemia (e.g., iron deficiency, thalassemia) and other conditions. In this study RBC indices are analyzed. After 51 days of chronic administration of the Ashwagandharishta liquid preparation at three different dose level, the Male and Female rats, showed no statistically significant change in MCV, MCH and RDW level than their corresponding control group. A highly statistically significant decrease in the total numbers of the red blood cells (RBC, [14.575 % decrease (p=0.006**)], Hemoglobin, [12.122 % decrease (p=0.021*)] and Haematocrit [15.112 % decrease (p=0.001***)] of the male rat high dose group was noticed. But the female rats showed no statistically significant change in Hemoglobin and Haematocrit level. Only the female rat medium dose group showed a statistically significant increase [7.771 % (p=0.038*)] than their corresponding control group. There was a statistically significant decrease in the Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), a red cell index of the female rat medium dose group [1.991 % decrease (p=0.005*)] and high dose group [1.670% decrease (p=0.019*). But the male rats showed no statistically significant change for this parameter.

Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 14(1 & 2): 151-163, 2025 (June & December)