In vitro antioxidant assay of aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon and its effect on haematological parameters of rat.

Many medicinal plants possess antioxidant properties. Antioxidant potentials of Cynodon dactylon and its haematological effects on Wistar rats was evaluated. In vitro radical scavenging activity was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Sixteen male Wistar rats were grouped into four groups of four rats each. Control group was fed normal rat feed and water, group 1 received 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) extract, group 2 received 200 mg/kg b. w. extract while group 3 received 400 mg/kg b. w. extract respectively for 21 days. Results showed that C. dactylon produced its optimum antioxidant activity against DPPH radical at a concentration of 400 mg/ml. At 100 mg/ml, optimum antioxidant activity was produced using FRAP. There was no significant (p> 0.05) difference in haemoglobin, red blood cell, platelet, white blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils concentration when compared to the control group. Antioxidant activity of the plant was low compared to that of the ascorbic acid. The observed antioxidant activity of the plant could be as a result of certain antioxidant compounds present in the plant. The extract showed minimal toxicity to haematological parameters at the doses administered.