International Journal of Research and Reports in Hematology

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a condition characterised by a decrease in the number and size of red blood cells, leading to inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues and organs. It is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide, affecting approximately 1.6 billion people globally, and may be caused by insufficient iron intake, impaired absorption or chronic blood loss. The main causes of IDA can be classified into three categories: inadequate dietary iron intake, increased iron requirements and chronic blood loss. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the methanolic leaf extract of Ficus capensis on selected haematological parameters in phenylhydrazine-induced iron-deficiency anaemic Wistar rats. This experimental study comprised 36 Wistar rats with five rats in each group. Group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 as the negative control, group 3 as the positive control, group 4 as the low-dose group, group 5 as the medium-dose group, group 6 as the high-dose group and group 7 as the extract plus ferrous sulphate group. The results showed significant elevation of TIBC in the positive control group compared with the negative control. Ficus capensis extract markedly reduced TIBC in a dose-dependent manner, with the lowest TIBC observed in the standard-drug group. The low- and medium-dose extract-treated groups also demonstrated significant reductions. Quantitative phytochemical screening of the methanolic leaf extract of Ficus capensis indicated the presence of Geranic acid, 1,4 Heptadia,3-methyl, beta.-Amyrin, Squalene, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Ethyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienate, 10-Dodecadia-1-o1, 3,7,11-trimethyl-, (E) (.+/-.)-, Phytol, 11-Octadecenic acid, methyl ester, 9,12-Octadecenic acid,methyl ester, (E, E)-, 6,6-Dimethylhepta2,4-diene, n-Hexadecan acid and Hexadecanol acid, methyl ester. This shows that the methanolic extract of Ficus capensis leaves contains a complex mixture of fatty acids, esters, terpenoids and hydrocarbon phytochemicals typically associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and haematopoietic activities. No mortality was observed after oral administration of the methanolic leaf extract of F. capensis at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. From the findings of this study, the methanolic extract of Ficus capensis leaves had no observed toxic effect, even at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight, and the acute toxicity value after 24 hours was greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. In conclusion, alterations in serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) among the experimental groups reflected the modulatory effect of Ficus capensis methanolic leaf extract on iron metabolism. Transferrin saturation percentage was markedly reduced in the positive control compared with the negative control, consistent with iron depletion.