Vol. 9, Issue 8, Part B (2025)

Lantana camara, a plant recognized for its hepatotoxic properties, can cause considerable hematological and biochemical disruptions in mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract against such toxic effects in female Wistar rats. A total of thirty rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I served as the untreated control, while Group II received Neem extract alone. Hepatic injury was induced in Group III through oral administration of Lantana camara extract. Group IV was pre-treated with Neem extract before toxicant exposure to assess its prophylactic potential, and Group V received Neem extract after Lantana camara administration to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy. Hematological and biochemical analyses revealed that rats exposed to Lantana camara (Group III) exhibited significant (p<0.05) reductions in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, along with elevated serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine. Additionally, total protein, albumin, and lymphocyte counts were notably decreased. Both preventive and therapeutic administration of Neem extract (Groups IV and V) showed marked amelioration of these toxic effects, with the pre-treatment group demonstrating superior protection. No significant alterations were observed in differential leukocyte counts across treatment groups. These findings suggest that Neem leaf extract offers effective biochemical and hematological protection against Lantana camara-induced toxicity, particularly when used as a preventive intervention.