Haematological and biochemical assay in sub chronic toxicity and ameliorative effects of Ziziphus nummularia leaves extract on wister rat

Abstract The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the recovery effect of Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract against hepato-renal toxicity induced by Quinolphos in Wistar rats. The study aimed to assess changes in biochemical and hematological parameters, including liver marker enzymes, renal functions, lipid profile parameters, and hematological indices. Thirty male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, Quinolphos-induced, Z. nummularia high dose (500 mg/kg), Z. nummularia low dose (250 mg/kg), and vehicle control (300 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for four weeks. Quinolphos and Z. nummularia were given in increasing doses relative to body weight. By the end of the second and fourth weeks, rats treated with Quinolphos in combination with Z. nummularia extract (250, 300, and 500 mg/kg) showed significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group. In the lipid profile, rats receiving a high dose of Z. nummularia (500 mg/kg) exhibited significantly higher levels of LDL and HDL compared with controls. Biochemical analysis revealed that, by the end of the fourth week, activities of the liver marker enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) had significantly increased. Hematological studies showed elevated levels of lymphocytes and neutrophils, while basophil levels declined. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly higher in control animals (35 pg and 35 g/dL, respectively), with differences significant at the 0.05 level. However, no significant rise in triglycerides or total cholesterol was observed compared with controls. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the hepatotoxic and renotoxic effects of Quinolphos, and suggests that Z. nummularia leaf extract may have protective or modulatory potential against such toxicity.