Effects of Eleophorbia drupifera Leaves Extract on Some Biochemical and Haematological Parameters of Albino Rats

Abstract

Water and ethanol-water extracts of Eleophorbia drupifera leaves were administered orally in graded doses of 0.5ml (147.06mg/kg body weight), 1.0ml (303.3 mg/kg body weight) water extract and 0.5ml (157.66 mg/kg body weight), 1.0ml (301.72 mg/kg body weight) ethanol-water extract on experimental animals for 3 weeks. The effect of the extracts on some biochemical and haematological parameters were evaluated in albino rats. At the end of 21 days, the growth response was higher in the test groups than in the control (p <0.05). The Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) levels of the test groups were significantly lower than the control (p <0.05) and total bilirubin showed significantly high values in test groups when compared with the control (p<0.05). The White blood cell (WBC) was significantly increased while the Red blood cell (RBC) was decreased when compared with the control (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in Packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) of the experimental animals (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the effects of the water extract and that of the ethanol-water extract on the albino rats (p<0.05). The results suggest that the leaf extract of Eleophorbia drupifera may possess the capacity to stimulate appetite and there may be no adverse effect associated with the use of this extract in phytotherapy.