Asian Hematology Research Journal

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a disease of the blood and bone marrow. Ethnomedicinal plants have been recommended to treat leukemic diseases in the conventional medicine system. Conventional medicine pursues the use of natural ingredients, thereby offering reinforcements to the cell regularly to revitalize the normal cell for cancer therapy. Hibiscus cannabinus is a medicinal plant which have been used for management and treatment of various diseases.

Methodology: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia was induced in rats by intravenous injection of 0.2 mls of benzene solution. The induction was carried out every 2 days for 3 consecutive weeks. The rats were divided into six groups: Group 1 was the normal control, group 2; positive control, group 3; chemotherapeutic drug control. 4, 5 and 6 groups received 2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg Hibiscus cannabinus extract by oral gavage, respectively. Blood was collected for biochemical and hematological examinations.

Result: Blood microscopy showed rouleaux formation in the positive group while groups treated with Hibiscus cannabinus showed a better blood cell morphology. Antioxidants; Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase and glutathione activities increased after supplementation with Hibiscus cannabinus extract significantly (p<0.05) in a dose dependent manner while hematopoeitic activities were modulated in wister rats treated with Hibiscus cannabinus extract proving its antileukemic potentials.

Discussion:  Results from this study reveals that Hibiscus cannabinus was able to mitigate leukemia burden by modulating haematological parameters and antioxidant concentrations in-vivo in chronic lymphocytic leukemic wister rat models, therefore the plant may be used as a complementary therapy in response to oxidative stress and haematopoiesis modulation in leukemia.