Effects of repeated administration of butanolic fraction of Blighia unijugata Bak. (Sapindaceae) leaves on some haematological parameters in wistar rats

Abstract

Blighia unijugata is a very widespread forest species in tropical Africa. It is usually used to treat various pathologies including hypertension. This study aims at evaluating the safety use of butanolic fraction of Blighia unijugata leaves (BuF) on some haematological parameters, body weight and relative organ weights in Wistar rats. Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each. The control group was repeatedly administered by oral route with distilled water at 10 mL/kg bw for 28 days while test groups 2, 3 and 4 were repeatedly gavaged with BuF extract at 50, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw respectively. Blood withdrawls were performed at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 using EDTA tubes by ocular puncture from fasted rats previously anesthetized with ether in order to assess BuF extract influence on some haematological parameters. At the end of the twenty-eight days of treatment, rats were weighed and sacrificed. Kidneys, liver, spleen and heart were removed and their relative organ weights were determined. The results showed that BuF extract induced a non-significant decrease (P>0.05) in some haematological parameters such as erythrocytes, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and significant (P<0.05) in hematocrit and thrombocytes in the treated rats compared to the control group. However, no significant changes (P>0.05) were observed in body weight and the relative organ weights such as heart, liver, kidneys and spleen during this study. This study indicates that butanolic fraction of Blighia unijugata leaves (BuF) administered to rats decreases hematocrit and thrombocyte levels at 50, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw and is safe for other hematological parameters and body weight in rats.

Effect of ethanolic stem-bark extract of Blighia unijugata on body and organ weight, biochemistry, and hematology in Sprague-Dawley rats

“…This stability in body and organ weight could indicate that EBU did not exert any adverse effects on the animals' metabolic rate or organ function. Similarly, Frederic et al 29 reported that the body weight and the relative weight of heart, liver, spleen, and kidney were not significantly altered after administering butanol fractions of Blighia unijugata leaves to wistar rats for 28 days.…”

“…The difference in findings from that of Agbafor et al 11 , who reported an increased red blood cell count with the aqueous extract of its leaves, could be attributed to variations in plant parts, extraction solvents and the doses used. Frederic et al 29 reported that whiles all other hematological parameters remain unaltered, administering butanol fractions of Blighia unijugata leaves to wistar rats caused a significant drop in hematocrit and thrombocyte levels . The seed oil extracted from the kernel and kernel / aril mixture of Blighia unijugata caused elevated red blood cells and hemoglobin levels.…”