Efficacy of Garcinia kola Seed Ethanolic Extract on Haematological Parameters in Male Wistar Rats
Denen Atsukwei *
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bingham University, P.M.B. 005, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Eze Ejike Daniel
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bingham University, P.M.B. 005, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Samuel Odu Odeh
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Moses Dele Adams
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bingham University, P.M.B. 005, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Ibrahim Samaila Malgwi
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Patricia Chidimma Olih
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bingham University, P.M.B. 005, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The efficacy of Garcinia kola seed ethanolic extract on selected haematological parameters of male Wistar rats was investigated. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats weighing 150.42±3.98 g were divided into three groups (I, II and III) comprising ten animals each. Animals in group I (control) received 0.5 ml of distilled water while those in groups II and III were administered 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively once daily for 21 days. After 21 days of extract administration, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed. Same was done after 42 days. Preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola seed revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, steroids and flavonoids. The lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was found to be safe up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the plasma of the animals. The extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased the mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) in the plasma of the animals. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola seed through its antioxidant property showed hematopoietic, stimulating and enhancing effects.
Keywords: Garcinia kola, haematological parameters, ethanolic extract, antioxidant property, hematopoietic