HAEMATOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS FED WITH DIET CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF PULVERISED SEEDS OF AZANZA GARCKEANA

ABSTRACT

Azanza garckeana commonly known as “Goron Tula” is a shrubby plant that is reportedly used for diverse medicinal purposes such as treatment for menstrual disorder, chest pains, and cough in Nigeria. This study was carried out to assess the haematological effects of diet containing graded levels of pulverized seeds of Azanza garckeana in male Wistar albino rats.A total of twenty-four (24) rats were used for this study. The rats were acclimatized for seven days and divided into four (4) groups. Group 1 served as control group and group 2 to 4 were the experimental groups fed with diet containing 10, 20 and 30 percent of seeds of Azanza garckeana fruits respectively.At the end of the experimental period, the rats were anesthetized with chloroform, blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta and the heart and the rats were then sacrificed.  Haematological analysis was performed on the blood samples using URIT-3010 a multi-parameter, automated haematology analyser. The results of the haematological analysis revealed a non-significant increase (p>0.05) in the white blood cells count for the three experimental groups relative to the control. The result also revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) in lymphocytic count at graded level of 30% pulverized seed.

 A significant increase in Red Blood Cell (RBC), Haemoglobin (HGB), and a relative non-significant increase (p>0.05) in Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Cell Distribution Width-Standard Deviation (RDW-SD) as well as thrombocytic parameters, including Platelet Count (PLT), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Plateletcrit (PCT) was observed. In conclusion the haematological effects of diet containing graded levels of pulverized seeds of azanza garckaena on adult male wistar rats proved to increase haematological parameters, although non-significantly and also not show any adverse effects on the haematological parameters examined. This finding supports its safe usage as a food source or medicine at  moderate dosage.