PLATELET ENHANCING EFFECT OF ECLIPTA ALBA IN ALCOHOL INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC RATS

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological finding with variable clinical expression. Low platelet count may be the initial manifestation of infections such as HIV, hepatitis, and also associated with some viral infection like dengue hemorrhagic fever, malaria, etc. In the present study, Methanol extract of Eclipta alba was evaluated at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight for 7 days in alcohol induced thrombocytopenic model in rats. Treatment with methanol extract of Eclipta alba significantly increased the platelet count within 3-5 days of treatment and also decreased the bleeding and clotting time when compared to alcohol treated groups. Hematological studies revealed that there is an increased in Megakaryocytes number in the bone marrow and histopathalogical examination indicated that significant decrease in liver sinusoidal dilation in the extract treated rats when compared to alcohol control. Therefore, the present study demonstrates potential use of Eclipta alba as an anti-thrombocytopenic and the effect on platelet distribution might be due to the presence of antioxidant and polyphenolic constituents.