Volume: 6 Issue: 2
Year: 2018, Page: 25-28,
Introduction: There are reports on how Cannabis sativa (CS) affect most of the body organs and systems.
Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of consumption of CS on haematological parameters.
Materials and Methods :Fifteen male rats weighing 200-220g were divided into 3 groups. Control group, administered 0.1ml/kg normal saline; Low dose (LD) group and High Dose (HD) group, administered 0.1mg/kg and 0.2mg/kg aqueous extract of CS respectively. The oral administration lasted for 28 days and blood samples were obtained via cardiac puncture for haematological parameter analysis.
Results :There was significant increase in the level of erythrocyte (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and Granulocytes count in LD and HD compared to the control. Total leukocytes (TLC), Monocytes and Lymphocytes counts in LD were significantly increased compared to control and HD groups. Platelet count decreased significantly in LD when compared to HD and control. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) decreased significantly in the LD compared to the control. There was no significant difference in Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
Conclusion : This study revealed that low dose of CS enhanced RBC and TLC productions. However, at high dose, CS increased susceptibility to infections due to immature blood cells production.
Keywords: Cannabis, Haematological Parameters, Rats, Consumption, Marijuana, India Hemp
1. Ayenigbara GO. Medical utility of cannabis sativa. IOSR Journal of pharmacy 2012; 29: 460 - 463.
2. Ashton CH. Pharmacology and effects of cannabis: a brief review. British J Pharmacology 2001; 178: 101 – 106.
3. Small E, Beckstead HD. Common cannabinoid phenotypes in 350 stocks of cannabis. Lloydia 1973; 36: 144 – 165.
4. Grlie L. A comparative study on some chemical and biological characteristic of various samples of cannabis resin. Bulletin Narcot 1976; 14: 37 – 46.
5. Mehmedic Z, Chandra S. Slade D. Potency trends of ∆9 - THC and other cannabinoid in confiscated cannabis preparations from 1993 to 2008. Journal Forensic Sci 2010; 55: 1209 - 1217.
6. Marvin E, Gilbert U. Pot. Am J Clin Path 1957; 28: 56 – 63.
7. Costa B. On the pharmacological properties of delta9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Chemistry and Biodiversity 2007; 4: 1664 – 1677.
8. Bloch E. Effects of marijuana and cannabinoids on reproduction, endocrine function, development and chromosomes. In: Fehr K. O, Kalant, H. (eds.). Cannabis and health hazards. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation 1983.
9. Ebuechi AOT, Akinwande AI, Famuyiwa OO, Uzodimma EO, Adebayo OA, Onwumere OA, Masade ON, Aiyesimoju B. Effect of marijuana smoking on blood chemistry and serum biogenic aminos concentrations in humans. Nigeria J Health and Biomed Sci 2005; 1: 20 – 24.
10. Levendal RA, Frost CL. In vivo effects of cannabis sativa liquid extract on blood coagulation, fat, and glucose metabolism in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Afr J Trad Complem Altern Med 2006; 3: 1- 12.
11. Isabell H, Hagerup I. Relationship between cigarette smoking and high PCV and Hb levels. Scand J Hematol 1971; 8: 241.
12. Hubber G, M’Cathy MC, Cutting P, Luguardo R. Pharmacology of cannabis. 1976. pp.8
13. Carrier EJ, Auchampach JA, Hillard CJ. Inhibition of an equilibrative nucleoside transporter by cannabidiol: a mechanism of cannabinoid immune suppression. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2006; 103: 7895 – 7900.
14. Castillo A, Tolon MR, Fernandez-Ruiz J. The neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol in an in-vitro model of new born hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in mice is mediated by CB2 adenosine receptors. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 37: 434 – 440.
15. Samuel OI, Thomas N, Ernest OU, Imelda N, Elvis NS, Ifeyinwa E. Comparison of haematological parameters determined by the Sysmex KX-21N automated haematology analyzer and the manual counts. BMC Clin Pathol 2010; 10: 3.
16. Slikker W, Paule GM, Ali FS, Scallet CA. Chronic marijuana smoke exposure in the rhesus monkey. plasma cannabinoid and blood carboxy-haemoglobin concentrations and clinical chemistry parameters. Fundamental Applied Toxicol 1991; 17: 321 – 334.
17. Valk P, Verbakel S, Vankan Y, Hol S, Mancham S, Ploemacher R, Mayen A, Lowenberg B, Delwel R. Anandamide, a natural ligand for the peripheral cannabinoid receptor, is a novel synergistic growth factor for haematopoietic cells. Blood 1997; 90: 1448 – 1475.
18. Mukhtar AH, Elbagir NM. The effect of cannabis sativa on certain enzymes of clinical significance in rats and men. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2011; 10: 313 – 316.
19. McPartland J, Mediavilla V. Non-cannabinoid components, in cannabis and cannabinoids-Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential (Grotenhermen, F., and Russo, E., eds.). New York: Haworth Press. 2002; pp. 401 – 409.
20. Russo RB. History of cannabis and its preparations in saga, science and sobriquet. Chemistry and Biodiversity 2007; 4: 1614 – 1648.
21. Oseni BS, Togun VA, Taiwo OF. Effect of marijuana smoking on some haematological parameters of smokers. World Journal of Medical Sci 2006; 1: 82 – 85.
Peter Ori O, Agona Odeh O, Akinjide Moses A, Sikirullai O J. Effects of chronic consumption of Cannabis sativa extracts on haematological parameters in male rats. Perspectives in Medical Research 2018;6(2):25- 28.