Viscum album (mistletoe) extract prevents changes in levels of red blood cells, PCV, Hb, serum proteins and ESR in high salt-fed rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed to determine the effects of Viscum album (mistletoe) on red blood cells, packed cell volume, Hb content, absolute haematological values {mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), colour index (CI)}, plasma proteins and ESR in high salt-fed rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 24 male albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 received normal rat pellets+drinking water. Group 2 took same as group 1+mistletoe extract (150 mg/kg body weight, orally once daily). Group 3 took high salt (8% NaCl) diet+1% NaCl drinking water. Group 4 took same as group 3+mistletoe extract (150 mg/kg body weight, orally once daily). The feeding regimens lasted for 6 weeks.

RESULTS: We observed that the mean RBC, PCV and Hb in the control group were 5.21+/-0.09 x 10(6)cells/mm(3), 43.50+/-1.61%, and 10.88+/-0.21 g/dl respectively. The extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced the RBC (5.72+/-0.08 x 10(6)cells/mm(3)), PCV (54.50+/-2.64%) and Hb (14.33+/-5.78 g/dl) in high salt-fed rats to near control levels. The extract also brought the elevated total plasma protein levels and reduced ESR in the high salt-fed rats (86.77+/-1.08 g/L and 1.83+/-0.31 mm/h respectively) to near control levels (82.23+/-0.91 g/L and 2.83+/-0.31 mm/h respectively), indicating the ability of the extract to prevent marked changes in the blood viscosity. The MCV, MCH, MCHC, and CI were not significantly altered by either extract or salt loading.

CONCLUSION: Crude mistletoe extract prevents changes in RBC, PCV, plasma protein levels, and ESR, and indication that the extract prevents changes in blood viscosity a major determinant of arterial blood pressure.