Infleunce of Nauclea latifolia Leaf Extracts on Some Haematological Parameters of Rats on Coconut Oil and Non-coconut Oil Meals

Aims: The haematological effects of Nauclea latifolia leaf extract on normal mature albino Wistar rats and normal mature hyperlipidemic rats were being investigated.

Study Design: 55 albino rats weighing between 200 – 230 g were divided into 3 experiments. Group 2, 3, 4 of Experiment 1 were administered with 170, 340 and 540 mg/kg body weight of water extract of Nauclea latifolia leaves respectively and Group 1 served as control for both experiment 1 and 2. Group 1, 2 and 3 of Experiment 2 received 170, 340 and 510 mg/kg body weight of water soluble ethanol extract while the animals in Experiment 3 were fed with coconut oil meal for 8 weeks before administration of 170, 340 and 510 mg/kg of water soluble fraction ethanol extract to Group 2, 3, 4 respectively while Group 1 served as control. All extracts were administered orally for two weeks.

Results: Analysis of the haematological indices at p<0.05 showed that there were no significant changes in the WBC counts hence the extracts had no deleterious effect on the defense mechanism of the rats. Similar observations were made for Hb concentration and PCV counts. There was a significant increase in RBC counts in Experiment 1 and 3 and a decreased RBC counts in Experiment 2. Platelet counts showed significant increase in Experiment 1 and 2 but there were no significant changes in Experiment 3, implying that the Nauclea latifolia may improve haematological functions in coconut oil induced hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion: This study shows that the leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia especially the water extract had an overall beneficiary effect on haematological parameters of albino rats.