Effect of Aqueous Extract of Unripe Seeds of Carica papaya on Four Hematological Parameters of Salmonella-Induce Enteric Fever in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aims: The study evaluates the effect of aqueous extract of the seeds of unripe Carica papaya on the haematological parameters of Salmonella typhi-induced enteric fever in Wistar rats. Methodology: Enteric fever was induced in Swiss albino Wistar rats by intra-peritoneally inoculated of the Salmonella typhi isolate (0.6 ml, i.p.). Rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. First group served as negative control that was neither treated with neither standard drug nor extract.  Second group as positive control that was administered 300 mg/kg body weight of Amoxicillin capsule.  Groups three and four received 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of unripe Carica papaya seeds. Blood samples were analyzed for haematological parameters (PCV, HbC, TRBC, and TWBC). Results: The Carica papaya extract-treated animals showed an improvement in PCV compared to the control animals. The Carica papaya extract-treated animals equally showed a non-significant (P>0.05) dose-dependent increase in the mean Hb concentration relative to that of the control animals.  A non-significant (P>0.05) lowered TRBC was recorded for animals in the treated groups and Amoxicillin group compared to animals in the untreated group.  The 300 mg/kg Carica papaya extract-treated animals was able to show a significantly (P<0.05) higher TWBC compared to the other treated animals and even the untreated group. Conclusion: It is concluded that aqueous seeds extract of unripe Carica papaya is able to improve and stabilize the haematological parameters of Salmonella typhi-induced enteric fever.