<![CDATA[Anemia is a global health problem characterized by decreased hemoglobin levels, resulting in impaired oxygen transport to body tissues. The standard treatment for anemia commonly involves iron supplementation, particularly ferrous sulfate; however, its use is often associated with gastrointestinal side effects that may reduce treatment adherence. Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) contain iron, vitamin C, folic acid, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, and various bioactive compounds that may support hematopoiesis, making them a potential natural alternative for anemia management. This study aimed to determine the effect of date extract on hemoglobin levels in anemic male Wistar rats. This study employed a laboratory experimental design using a pretest-posttest with control group design. A total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, negative control, positive control (ferrous sulfate), date extract at a dose of 69.62 mg/200 g body weight, and date extract at a dose of 278.47 mg/200 g body weight. Anemia was induced by administering sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. Hemoglobin levels were measured before and after treatment. Data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and post hoc tests with a significance level of 5%. The results showed a significant difference in hemoglobin level changes among treatment groups (p<0.001). The group receiving date extract at a dose of 278.47 mg/200 g body weight demonstrated the highest increase in hemoglobin levels, followed by the positive control group and the lower-dose date extract group. No significant difference was observed between the high-dose date extract group and the ferrous sulfate group, indicating comparable effectiveness to standard therapy.]]>
