An investigation on the Effects of Napoleona imperialis Methanol Seed Extract on Haematological Parameters and Cardiac Function Enzymes in Albino Rats

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the effect of methanol seed extract of N. imperialison Haematological parameters and some cardiac function biomarker enzymes. The LD50 and antinutrient contents were also determined using standard methods. The experiment comprised of 25 albino rats divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each in which group 1 was the control, Group 2 received 100 mg/kg, Group 3 received 200 mg/kg, Group 4 received 400 mg/kg and group 5 received 600 mg/kg of the methanol extract of N. imperialis seeds. The rats were administered the extract orally for 28 days. On day 29, after an overnight fast, blood samples were collected from ocular vein for analysis of haematological parameters and cardiac function biomarker enzymes. Results showed that the LD50 was 3605.55 mg/kg, a significant decrease in PCV, WBC in the group given 600 mg/kg of the extract, RBC and platelets also decreased significantly in the test groups compared to the control. There was however no significant changes in the cardiac function enzymes; CK and LDH in all the experimental groups compared to the control. This research revealed that the methanol seed extract of N. imperialis posed some haemolytic effects on the blood manifested by significant decrease in haematological indices but no significant changes in the cardiac function enzymes.