Influence of 70% Alcoholic Extract of Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) on Some Physiological Parameters in Adult Male Rats Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide

This study was designed to investigate possible preventive role 70%alcoholic extract of fresh fruit of hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) (300 mg/kg) which extracted from fresh fruits against the deleterious effect of 1% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on some physiological parameters in male rats. Fifteen adult male rats were divided randomly into three equal groups (5/group) and were treated daily as follows for one month: control group ©which were given distilled water, first treated group was given 1% H2O2 In drinking water (G1), the second treated group (G2) was given orally 70% alcoholic extract of hawthorn (300 mg/kg) with 1% H2O2 in drinking water. Blood samples were collected after 30 days for measuring the following parameters: total WBC count, the percentage of WBC differential count (%), platelet count, total protein, albumin and globulin, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (N/L) index, Albumin/Globulin (A/G) index and phagocytic Index. The result showed a significant increase in total WBC count, platelet count, Lymphocyte percentage, phagocytic index, total protein and globulin concentration in alcoholic extract of hawthorn with H2O2 group (G2) as compared with H2O2 group (G1). The result also pointed a significant increase in monocyte, neutrophil percentage, N/L index and A/G index of H2O2 group (G1) as compared with (G2) group H2O2 with hawthorn. The result suggests that the adverse effect of 1% H2O2 can be prevented with 70% alcoholic extract of hawthorn in male rats.