Histopatho-Protective Effects of the Aqueous Leaf Polyherbal Extract of in Phenylhydrazine-Induced Immune-Suppressed Rats
Main Article Content
Abstract
Phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anemia can involve tissue injury in visceral and immune organs. This study investigated the histoprotective effects of a polyherbal aqueous leaf extract (PHALE) in PHZ-induced immunosuppressed Wistar rats. Plant samples were rinsed, shade-dried, pulverized, and processed into an aqueous extract. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups of six animals each. Anemia was induced using PHZ at 40 mg/kg, and treatment groups received oral folic acid at 10 mg/kg or PHALE at 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg for 14 days. Liver, spleen, and thymus tissues were examined histologically on day 14. Extract treatment ameliorated PHZ-associated hepatocellular pyknosis, enhanced splenic lymphoid follicles and red pulp hematopoiesis, and preserved thymic cortical architecture. The most pronounced histological recovery occurred at 50–100 mg/kg. These findings suggest that PHALE has histoprotective potential in PHZ-induced anemia and associated immune alterations. The study provides preliminary histological evidence of protective effects on hepatic, splenic, and thymic tissues within this experimental model.
Downloads
Citation Metrics & Similar Scopus Articles
-
Zulkifli N. (2027)Flowsheet Design and Modelling for High Purity Praseodymium and Neodymium by Solvent ExtractionKompleksnoe Ispolzovanie Mineralnogo Syra, 342(3), 111-122
-
Tameem A.A. (2028)Biogenic Amine Determination by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using a Sol-Gel-Immobilized 2-Hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde-2,4-dinitro phenyl hydrazone Solid-Phase ExtractantKompleksnoe Ispolzovanie Mineralnogo Syra, 344(1), 46-54
-
Nor’azmi N.Z. (2028)Functionalized Chitosan-Modified PVDF-co-HFP Polymer Inclusion Membrane for Enhanced Au(III) ExtractionKompleksnoe Ispolzovanie Mineralnogo Syra, 346(3), 64-71
Article Details

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Adebayo, A. H., Abayomi, T. A., Adeyemi, O. S., Oyewole, O. I., Akande, O. A., & Gbadegesin, M. A. (2020). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 253, Article 112658.
Ahmed, M. (2016). Steps of tissue processing in histopathology laboratory, review report. Heal Dig., 1, 26–27.
Akintimehin, E. S., Karigidi, K. O., Omogunwa, T. S., & Adetuyi, F. O. (2021). Safety assessment of oral administration of ethanol extract of Justicia carnea leaf in healthy Wistar rats: Hematology, antioxidative and histology studies. Clinical Phytoscience, 7(1), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-020-00234-4
Allahmoradi, M., Alimohammadi, S., & Cheraghi, H. (2019). Protective effect of Cynara scolymus L. on blood biochemical parameters and liver histopathological changes in phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia in rats. Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research, 5(4), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.18502/pbr.v5i4.2397
Ani, O. N., Udedi, S. C., Akpata, E. I., Ezeigwe, O. C., Oguazu, C. E., Onyishi, C. K., & Nwakaudu, E. N. (2020). Effects of ethanol leaf extract of Justicia carnea on biochemical indices of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. IOSR Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 6(2), 39–46. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbb/pages/vol6-issue2.html
Dhakre, D. S., Bhattacharya, D., & Nath, B. (2023). SPSS practical manual on Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati.
Elgabry, E. A., El-Feky, A. M., & Mahmoud, K. (2023). Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Ipomoea batatas Lam. on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 242, Article 124852.
Ezeigwe, O. C., Nzekwe, F. A., Nworji, O. F., Ezennaya, C. F., Iloanya, E. L., & Asogwa, K. K. (2020). Effect of aqueous extract of F. capensis leaves and its combination with C. aconitifolius leaves on essential biochemical parameters of phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats. Journal of Experimental Pharmacology, 12, 191–201. https://doi.org/10.2147/JEP.S254003
Gasmi, A., Mujawdiya, P. K., Noor, S., Lysiuk, R., Darmohray, R., Piscopo, S., Lenchyk, L., Antonyak, H., Dehtiarova, K., Shanaida, M., & Peana, M. (2023). Consciousness of the herbal immunomodulators in infectious diseases. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 30(1), 5–23.
Gupta, D., Kushwah, C., Joshi, A., Malvia, S., & Kharia, A. (2018). Anti-anemic activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Lycium barbarum in phenyl hydrazine induced anemic rats. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8, 1–3.
Jantan, I., Haque, M. A., Arshad, L., Harikrishnan, H., Septama, A. W., & Mohamed-Hussein, Z.-A. (2021). Dietary polyphenols suppress chronic inflammation by modulation of multiple inflammation-associated cell signaling pathways. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 93, Article 108634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2021.108634
Josiah, S. S., Omoruyi, S. I., Owoeye, O., Okoye, E. I., & Eseimua, E. (2024). Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Ficus capensis leaf extract against carboplatin-induced liver injury in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 320, Article 117385.
Kumar, A., Tiwari, A., & Agrawal, A. (2022). Role of medicinal plants in immunomodulation: A comprehensive review. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 34, Article 100584.
Liu, Y., Liu, W., Li, J., Tang, S., Wang, M., Huang, W., Tag, S., Wang, M., & Huang, W. (2019). Immunomodulatory effects of a polysaccharide from Astragalus membranaceus on the spleen and thymus of immunosuppressed mice. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 126, 443–451.
Melini, C. M., Kikuti, M., Yue, X., & Corzo, C. A. (2026). Cardiac puncture blood collection as a practical and biosecure method for post-mortem pathogen detection in pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12, Article 1741832. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1741832
Nairz, M., & Weiss, G. (2020). Iron in infection and immunity. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 75, Article 100864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2020.100864
Njoku-Oji, N. N., Nwike, C. V., Dimkpa, U., Ifegwu, N. O., Anike, L. C., Maduka, S. O., Sobanke, O. A., & Uchefuna, R. C. (2016). Hematological changes following oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Ficus capensis in albino rats. International Blood Research & Reviews, 5(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.9734/IBRR/2016/23083
Obazelu, P. A., & Odionyenma, U. C. (2024). Haematological effect of a bi-herbal composition on phenyl hydrazine-induced anaemia in albino Wistar rats. Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 10(3a), 325–333. https://doi.org/10.4314/dujopas.v10i3a.30
Obazelu, P. A., & Williams, D. E. (2024). Antioxidant effect of bi-herbal formula of Picralima nitida and Cymbopogon citratus extracts in phenyl-hydrazine induced anaemia in albino Wistar rats. Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science Research, 13(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.60787/nijophasr-v13-i1-536
Okafor, C. E., Anosike, C. A., & Opara, M. N. (2018). Immunoprotective potential of Ficus capensis leaf extract in phenylhydrazine-induced anaemia. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 15(4), 1–9.
Oladipo, E. K., Adeoti, O. M., Adeoye, O., & Adeyemi, O. A. (2017). CD4+ T-cell count and viral load among HIV-infected patients. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 20(3), 281–286.
Onyeabo, C., Achi, N. K., Ekeleme-Egedigwe, C. A., Ebere, C. U., & Okoro, C. K. (2017). Haematological and biochemical studies on Justicia carnea leaves extract in phenylhydrazine induced-anemia in albino rats. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria, 16(2), 217–230. https://doi.org/10.17306/J.AFS.0492
Oyewole, O. I., Malomo, S. O., Adegoke, A. O., Adeyemi, O. S., Abayomi, T. A., & Adeyanju, A. A. (2022). Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of polyherbal extract on phenylhydrazine-induced anemic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 285, 114–122.
Patel, S. S., Shah, P. V., & Soni, H. P. (2025). Immunomodulatory potential of natural products and herbal medicines: Implications for COVID-19 and beyond. Phytotherapy Research, 39(1), 95–119.
Ramirez, T., Strigun, A., Verlohner, A., Huener, H.-A., Peter, E., Herold, M., Bordag, N., Mellert, W., Walk, T., Spitzer, M., Jiang, X., Sperber, S., Hofmann, T., Hartung, T., Kamp, H., & van Ravenzwaay, B. (2018). Prediction of liver toxicity and mode of action using metabolomics in vitro in HepG2 cells. Archives of Toxicology, 92(2), 893–906. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-017-2079-6
Rao, S. S., & Sreelatha, S. (2020). Protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) on thymus gland of rats exposed to gamma radiation. Journal of Radiation Research, 61(3), 321–330.
Sheth, P. A., Pawar, A. T., Mote, C. S., & More, C. (2021). Antianemic activity of polyherbal formulation, Raktavardhak Kadha, against phenylhydrazine-induced anemia in rats. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 12(2), 340–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.02.009
Uchegbu, R. I., Nwaoguikpe, R. N., & Nwachukwu, I. O. (2021). Hematopoietic and immunomodulatory effects of Justicia carnea in phenylhydrazine-treated rats. Journal of Biological Research and Biotechnology, 19(1), 11–19.
Ukpabi-Ugo, J. C., Uhuo, E. N., Ugwu, O. C., & Chukwuma, E. W. (2023). Evaluation of subacute toxicity of methanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves in Wistar albino rats. Animal Research International, 20(1), 4862–4875.
Weiss, G., & Goodnough, L. T. (2005). Anemia of chronic disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 352(10), 1011–1023. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra041809
Zhang, Y., Li, M., & Wang, T. (2020). Phytochemicals and their impact on bone health. Nutrients, 12(11), Article 3445.


