Haemopoietic and Haematinic Potentials of Crude Methanolic and Aqueous Seed Extract of Telfairia Occidentalis in Albino Wistar Rats.

Abstract

Haemopoietic and Heamatinic potentials of crude methanol and aqueous seed extract of Telfairia Occidentalis (Ugu) in albino rats were studied using one hundred and twenty eight rats of mixed sexes ages 2-3 month weighing (150+ 20)g. Acute toxicity studies was performed and LD50 of the Telfairia Occidentalis obtained using standard methods. This work was carried out in the animal house of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. The work was done in two set. The first set, the aqueous seed extract, the rats were divided into nine groups of eight animals each Group A, B1-B3, C-G. Group A was the normal control. Group G was the negative control; Group F was the positive control. Groups A, B1-B3 were used for haemopoietic potential while groups C-G were used for haematinic potential and were first induced for anaemia using phenylhydrazine for 9 days. At the end of the induction, the animals were given graded extract concentration, Group B1 – B3 received 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight respectively also Groups C-E respectively received 50,100 and 200mg/kg body weight of extracts. Group A, the normal control received only feed and water. Group F, the positive control received 100mg/kg body weight of Astymin(a commercially prepared haematinic) while Groups G, the negative control received only feed and water after induction of anaemia. The bloods was collected from the animals on interval of 3days (day 3, day 6 and 9) from the onset of the administration of the extracts and were distributed appropriately into di-potassium EDTA for haematology studies and plain bottles for liver enzymes. The rats were sacrificed after collection of blood, the bone marrow was collected, the liver and kidney extracted for histological studies. The second set was used for the methanol extract, here the seeds were extracted in methanol and the process repeated as in the case of aqueous extract. Results obtained showed that the reticulocytes of the rats that received the various concentration of both methanol and aqueous extract were significantly increased p<0.05 while the platelets were only significantly increased p<0.05 in aqueous extract. The bone marrow examination also revealed increased cellularity when compared with the control group. In haematinic studies, aneamia was actually achieved but with the administration of the extract the conditions improved. This improvement was gradual as the reticulocytes which were very high on the 3rdday of administration 48.5 ± 3.5 and 26 ± 1.5% for both methanol and ethanol extract respectively gradually reduced by the 9th day 11.0 ± 1.0 and 12.5 ± 0.5% though still much higher than the controls. The Rbcs, Hb and PCV values were 6.1 ± 1.1×106/µl, 13.1 ± 2.0g/dl and 41.1 ± 3.0% respectively giving a significant increase ( p ˂ 0.05) when compared with the positive control 5.1 ± 0.1 × 106/µl, 11.6 ± 0.3 g/dl and 35.0 ± 0.9% and negative control values 3.3 ± 0.1 × 106/ml, 8.2 ± 4.0 g/dl and 24.9 ± 2.0% in rats that received the various concentrations of the extracts. This effect was observed more in methanolic extract than in the aqueous extract. This study therefore suggests that the seed of Telfairia occidentalis (Ugu) has both haemopoietic and haematinic potentials that for hemapoietic potentials, the aqueous extract is better while for haematinic potentials methanol extract is better. It also suggests that this seed can be safely consumed as it has no adverse effect on both the liver and the kidney cells. The serum transaminases were also not affected.