Variation in some haematological indices during normal pregnancy was investigated. The test group comprised 200 pregnant women who presented themselves at the Capitol Hill Clinic Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, for antenatal care while the control group comprised 80 nonpregnant women randomly selected from the student population in Delta State University, Abraka. Data generated from the pretest questionnaire indicated that 55.8% of the research participants experienced an increase in appetite. The analysis of haematological indices was done using automated hematological analyzer. The result from the study showed that there was a significant decrease ( < 0.05) in the PCV of the test group (32.58±4.01)% when compared to the control (37.07±3.19)%. Similarly, the result of the blood haemoglobin showed a significant difference ( < 0.05) between the test (10.00 ± 1.28) g/dL and the control group (11.71 ± 1.32) g/dL while granulocytes and platelets also showed significant decrease ( < 0.05) with lymphocytes increasing significantly; the total white blood cell count (WBC) showed no significant difference; there was an increased level compared to the control. The study concluded that pregnancy in women has the tendency to alter haematological indices.

The objective of the research was to contribute to the continual search for natural products that could mitigate alterations in haematological indices due to cadmium poisoning.          Materials and methods. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were mobilized and divided into six groups (A-F). Group A served as the control one which was neither exposed to cadmium nor treated with palm oil fraction. Group B was not treated with palm oil fractions but received a single dose of 20mgkg-1 body weight of cadmium chloride solution on the 29th day of the experiment, while Groups C-E received 5mlKg-1 bodyweight of crude palm oil, silica gel extract, bleached extract and unsaponifiable extract of palm oil respectively for 28 days before a single dose of 20mgKg-1 body weight of cadmium chloride on the 29th day. Blood samples were collected from four animals via cardiac puncture on the 29th, 30th and 31st day within intervals of 12h, 24h and 48h after cadmium administration. This was then analysed for haematological parameters using an automated haematological analyser. Data analysis was carried out using the one-way factor analysis of variance at a significant level of p<0.05.          Results. The impact of cadmium intoxication on haematological indices in rats was time-dependent and was mostly felt at the end of the 48-hour period indicating a significant decrease in the packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cells values, while the increase due to cadmium was observed in mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume  values; pre-treatment of palm oil fractions mitigated the noxious effects of cadmium significantly near control values.          Conclusions. Crude palm oil and its fractions have the ability to mobilize antioxidant defence potentials against cadmium damage to blood cells.

Background Dennentia tripetalla (Pepper Fruit) belongs to the Annonaceae family and is abundant in Nigeria. Its fruit in folklore medicine is used for treatment of varying ailments. While ample research evidence exists on the plants fruit and seed, no current study exists on the toxicological profile of the plant leaves. Methods qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals and In vitro antioxidant assays were carried out using standard methods. The acute toxicity study indicates that the LD50 was higher than 2000 mg/Kg body weight. Sub-chronic toxicity studies was carried out using five groups of rats. Group 1 served as control, 2–5 received 100 mg/Kg, 200 mg/Kg, 500 mg/Kg and 1000 mg/Kg body weight orally for 28 days. Results Post-administration biochemical analysis indicates there was increased weight in rats administered 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg while it reduced in the 500 mg/kg group. Significant elevations of liver function markers were reported for 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively. Serum and hepatic protein profiles remained unaltered. Renal function analysis revealed elevated serum urea and creatinine for 200 and 500 mg/kg groups, elevated serum Na+ and Ca+ and reduced serum Cl− for the 500 mg/Kg group. Elevated Kidney K+ and Ca+ levels, reduced Cl− were significantly observed in 500 mg/Kg group. Significant rise in hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation was observed in 200 and 500 mg/Kg groups. There were observed disarmament of the antioxidant defense systems occasioned by rise and drop in tissue (hepatic, renal, testes, heart) Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (Cat), Glutathione-s-transferase (GST), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the test groups relative to control. Histopathological examination indicated architectural aberrations at 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Conclusions It concluded that the plant had significant phytochemical and antioxidant properties of medical interest and possessed toxic properties in rats when administered at a dose above 200 mg/Kg over a prolonged period of time.