Haemolytic activity of rhisome and root extract of Helleborus odorus Waldst. et Kit. applied on Wistar rats

In the health care of animals phytoteraphy is being applied very intensively, mostly for the prophylactic purpose and with the aim of treating weaker forms of diseases and chronic course of a disease. It is well known from a traditional folk medicine that Helleborus L. can induce the functions of defensive cell effectors and increase the activity of rapid, unspecific mechanisms of immune response. The plants of the genus Helleborus L. contain saponosides which increase the permeability of the erythrocytes membrane and that leads to the haemolysis and loss of haemoglobin. In this research paper we have studied the influence which the rhisome and root extract of H. odorus Waldst. et Kit., may have on the value of the erythrocytes count, concentration of haemoglobin and haematocrit value. In the rats in the trial group the extract of underground plant organs of Helleborus odorus Walds. et Kit. was applied intramuscularly in the concentration of 0,5, 5 or 20mg/100g TM. In the rats in a control group a sterile physiological solution in the quantity of 0,25ml/100g TM was applied in the same way.