The Effect of Taraxacum Officinale Hydro Alcoholic Extract on the Blood Cell Counts in Mice

Taraxacum officinaleis a herbaceous perennial plant which has many pharmaceutical effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of this plant on blood cell counts in mice. In this experimental study، 50 mature female mice were divided into 5 groups، each group including ten adult female Balb/C mice. The control group did not receive any extract. while the placebo group received 0. 5 cc of normal saline، every other day. The three treatment groups intraperitoneally received 50، 100، 200 mg/kg /2day doses of hydro alcoholic extract for 20 days. Normal saline was administered to the control group. WBC، RBC، HB، HCT، platelet and other cells of the animals were counted using full automated cell counter. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The number of RBC and the rate of Hb in three doses of 50، 100 and 200 mg/kg were significantly increased (p<0. 05) in all three treatment groups as compared with the control group. The number of WBC in three doses of 50، 100 and 200 mg/kg increased، but it was significant in 200 mg/kg dandelion treated group as compared with the control group (p<0. 05). The rate of platelet in three doses of 50، 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly decreased as compared with the control group (p<0. 01). The study confirmed the dose dependent efficacy of dandelion extract on RBC and WBC.