ABSTRACT

Orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaves can be utilized as a fresh green leafy vegetable in addition to the traditional use of storage root. Most respondents of a sensory evaluation panel indicated that they will readily use Orange fleshed sweet potato leaves in the preparation of their food because its appearance and preparation may not alter organoleptic attributes. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the biochemical, hematological and histological effect of orange fleshed sweet potato leaves. Orange fleshed sweet potato leaves were fed to rats in group II, group III and group IV and received 0.25g/100g, 0.5g/100g and 1g/100g of OFSP leaves supplemented diet respectively. Group I received the control diet (diet containing 0g/100g of OFSP supplemented diet), while group V received 1g/100g of Pumpkin leaves supplemented diet and served as the positive control group. The rats in the various groups received the various treatments for a period of 42 days. A perusal of results on Growth rate, Apparent digestibility coefficient and Efficiency of conversion of digested food and weight gain was higher in group IV (diet containing 1g/100g of OFSP leaves supplemented diet) in comparison to other test groups. Result revealed that group I (the control group fed without OFSP leaves) and group II (rats fed with 0.25g/g OFSP leaves in diet) had the highest consumption index. Hematological findings showed that Orange fleshed sweet potato leaves supplemented diet caused a significant increase (P< 0.05) in Platelet and Red blood cells.  There were however no significant changes in the levels of White blood cells, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, Mean platelet volume, Monocytes, Hematocrit and Hemoglobin. Mean corpuscular volume, Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, Granulocytes was significantly reduced (P>0.05). The study also provided unaltered histological architecture of livers, kidney, heart, pancreas, testes and ovum. It is suggested that OFSP leaves may have a direct effect on the body system to stimulate the formation and secretion of erythropoietin, hematopoietic growth factors/committed stem cells.