Effects of bioactive principles from stem bark extract of Quassia amara, Quassin and 2-methoxycanthine-6-one, on haematological parameters in albino rats.

The effect of Quassia amara extract and two isolated compounds from the extract, quassin and 2-methoxycathine-6-one on haematological parameters was studied in rats. All doses of the extract and those of the quassin significantly increased red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration.However, there was no significant increase in the total white blood cell count.There was also no significant change in all parameters studied with 2-methoxycanthine-6-one. The results suggest that quassia extract possesses antianaemic property.