Influence of ethanolic extracts of dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich on haematological and biochemical parameters in healthy Wistar rats

Abstract

Bioactivities of plant-based compounds had been shown to be influenced by properties of the extracting solvents. This study investigated the influence of ethanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich on the haematological and biochemical parameters in apparently healthy Wistar Rats using solvent partitioning. The procedures involved partitioning of ethanolic extract of X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich into n-hexane and aqueous fractions, chosen based on their differences in polarities and dielectric constants. The samples were administered at doses of 100 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg body weight orally once per day for a period of fourteen (14) days to apparently healthy male Wistar rats that had been randomly selected into seven (7) groups. Haematological parameters and plasma biochemical indices were determined using standard protocols after the rats were sacrificed on the 15th day. The results showed that the levels of haematocrit and related parameters in all the groups that received the extract when compared to the control increased significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, no detrimental effect was observed on the levels of endogenous antioxidants, liver and kidney function indices in the rats compared to the control. In summary, on the basis of these findings, this study suggests that the extracts may be capable to alleviate the pathologies that are associated with haematological disorders through improvement of endogenous antioxidant status. The study proposes further evaluation on the molecular mechanism of bioactive components of X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich as agents that can prevents anaemia.