REGULATORY ROLE OF TERMINALIA CATAPPA ON HOST HAEMOTOLOGICAL RESPONSE DURING EXPERIMENTAL SALMONELLA PATHOGENESIS IN RATS

The regulatory role of Terminalia catappa on host hematological responses during experimental Salmonella pathogenesis in Wistar albino rats was investigated. After a 14-day acclimatization period, thirty-five rats (29 females, 6 males) were randomly assigned into seven groups of five animals each. Groups 1–6 were orally infected with Salmonella spp. Group 1 received 12.5 mg/kg bwt of ethanolic T. catappa extract, Group 2 received 25 mg/kg bwt, Group 3 received 50 mg/kg bwt, and Group 4 received 100 mg/kg bwt. Group 5 was treated with ofloxacin (positive control), while Group 6 was infected but left untreated. Group 7 (negative control) received only sterile distilled water. All treatments were administered orally, and the study lasted seven weeks. Hematological analysis showed that infected, untreated rats had the lowest mean values for PCV (32%), RBC (6.36 × 10¹²/L), lymphocytes (77.67%), and platelets (172.67 × 10⁹/L), indicating infection-induced hematological suppression. In contrast, rats treated with T. catappa extract showed significant improvements in these parameters. Notably, the group treated with 12.5 mg/kg bwt exhibited the highest PCV (43.27%), RBC (8.70 × 10¹²/L), and lymphocyte percentage (93.00%), while the group treated with 100 mg/kg bwt recorded the highest platelet count (290.33 × 10⁹/L). Differential leukocyte counts revealed that the extract modulated WBC profiles across treated groups, suggesting immunomodulatory effects. Overall, ethanolic leaf extract of Terminalia catappa demonstrated hematopoietic potential, beneficial modulation of leukocyte responses, and may serve as a supportive therapy in managing infection-induced hematological disturbances.