Efficacy of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract on cadmium induced changes in blood haematology, hepatic and nephritic function markers in albino rats

The present study was designed to examine the protective effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic leaves extract on the haematological, hepatic and nephritic function marker changes induced in the blood of cadmium chloride treated albino rats. Administration of cadmium chloride (5 mg/kg body weight) caused a considerable increase in the count of WBC, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, globulin and decrease in the levels of total haemoglobin, RBC, hematocrit, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentrations, total serum protein and albumin. Various concentrations of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/kg body weight) or silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight) as a pre-treatment were administered for 30 days to rats treated with cadmium chloride (5 mg/kg body weight). The levels of haematological, hepatic and nephritic function markers were found to be restored to near normal levels and the effectiveness of the treatment was found to be concentration dependent. The effective concentration of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract was found to be 80 mg/kg body weight. At this concentration, the extract’s protective effect was comparative to silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight). Altogether the results suggest that, Centella asiatica ethanolic extract (80 mg/kg body weight) can substantially reduce the toxic effects of cadmium and can help restore the imbalance caused in cadmium treated albino rats to near normal.