Introduction
Background of the Study Malunggay is a popular plant that is dubbed “ miracle tree” or “ natures medicine cabinet” by scientists andhealthcare workers worldwide because of its proven nutritional benefits as well as, reported medical properties. In the Philippines Malunggay is widely cultivated and can be found in the backyard of many Filipino homes. It is a low-maintenance plant. It can grow in almost any kind of soil and is drought resistant. The Malunggays main values are as source of nutrients.
Its medicinal properties are limited and mostly unproven. It also helps to control blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines. Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Platelets (a type of blood cell) and proteins in your plasma (the liquid part of blood) work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury. Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed.
Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Clots can occur in veins or arteries, which are vessels that are part of the body’s circulatory system. While both types of vessels help transport blood throughout the body, they each function differently. Veins are low-pressure vessels that carry deoxygenated blood away from the body’s organs and back to the heart.
An abnormal clot that forms in a vein may restrict the return of blood to the heart and can result in pain and swelling as the blood gathers behind the clot.
Objectives
The study aimed to determine the efficacy of Malunggay leaves (Moringa Oleifera) leaves extract in increasing the platelet count of albino mice. Specifically, it aimed to compare the platelet counts of these mice given doses of the plant extract before and after the treatments.
Hypothesis
The study is guided by the following hypotheses.
Null: That Malunggay leaves (Moringa Oleifera) decoction is as significant as the control in increasing the platelet count of albino mice. Alternative: There is a significant difference of the Malunggay leaves (Moringa Oleifera) and the control in increasing the platelet count of the albino mice.
Scope and Limitation
The scope of the study is limited to the extraction of Malunggay leaves and administration of the extract in mice in different doses. The platelet is the main blood cell under investigation.