Hematological and biochemical changes in rabbits exposed to castor oil (Ricinus communis) under experimental conditions

Abstract

In the last few decades there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine. One such medicinal plant is Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), which is commonly known as castor. All parts of the plant are important phloem, bark, leaves, flowers, seed and oil. The study was conducted on 15 mature rabbitsof either sex of 1-2 kg body weight and 1-2 years old. The animals were divided into three groups of 5 animals each. Animals of group I were exposed orally to ricin extract at a dose rate of 0.5 mg /kg b.wt. daily for 14 days, while those of group II were exposed orally to aqueous leaves extract 0.5mg /kg b.wt daily for 14 day, mean while those of group III were left as a control group not exposed. The dependent parameters in the study were hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, total erythrocytes count, packed cells volume (PCV%), erythrocytes indices mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Total and differential leucocytes count (TLC and DLC), in addition to some biochemical tests of blood serum which obtained at day 14th post exposure. The results of the study were revealed that the ricin extract and leaf extract exhibited an effects on hematological pictures as the erythrocytes counts, erythrocytes indices, Hb concentration and PCV% decreased and the obvious effects were in the 14th day. Ricin extract was less effects on many dependent parameters in comparison with aqueous leaf extract. Total leucocytes count, neutrophils % was increased in both ricin and leaf extract, and the increasing were higher in the 7th day in Ricin extract group. The lymphocytes% was decreased. While monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils % did not show any significant changes in all groups. Neutrophil /lymphocyte (N/l), and monocyte /lymphocyte (M/l) increased in both exposed groups. Cholesterol (Chol), Triglyceride (TG)were increased, while total protein (TP)was decreased, Albumin (Alb), Cortisol (Cort), Total serum bilirubin (TSB) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)did not changed. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) value was increased, while Adenosine phosphatase (AP) value was deceased. In conclusion castor oil due to its content of ricin exhibit an effects on hematological and biochemical parameters that depended in the study, and the leaves extract was higher than seed extract in its effects.