The effect of Echinacea Purpura hydroalcoholic extract on the blood parameters in mice

Purple cone flower is a plant with scientific name Echinaceae purpurea that belongs to Echinaceae family. This plant has many pharmaceutical effects which one of the most important uses is Immunostimulating. This research attempts to study the effects of Echinaceae purpurea hydroalcoholic extract on the blood parameters in little laboratory female mice (Balb/c species). In this research، 48 mature female mice were divided randomly into 6 groups. The control group did not receive any extract، the placebo group received 0. 5 cc normal saline every other day and 4 treatment groups received extract with (50،100،200،300) mg/kg/2day doses that was used interperitoneal injection. Then the blood samples were taken from the whole mice. The results were analyzed in the case that p<0. 05،using SPSS software. The study of blood parameters showed that the extract increased markedly in the total number of white blood cells in each of 4 treatment groups in comparison with control group. The number of neutrophiles decreased significantly in each of 4 treatment groups in comparison with control group، but the significant difference wasn’t noticed in monocytes. The number of red blood cells increased significantly in groups 1، 2 in comparison with the control group، but in groups 3 and 4 there was no significant difference. In this study، the extract had no statistical significant effect on the mean of hematocrit، hemoglobin and the index of red blood cells (MCV،MCH،MCHC). The extract of Echinaceae purpurea can support the system of immunity by increasing the number of white blood cells and can be effective in hematopoiesis by increasing the number of red blood cells.