The Impact of Citrus aurantium Fruit Juice on Bodyweight and Haematological Parameters of Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae), commonly known as bitter orange is widely consumed owing to its numerous therapeutic potentials. Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of Citrus aurantium fruit (bitter orange) juice on bodyweight and haematological parameters of wistar rats. Method: The animals were administered Citrus aurantium juice orally at three divided doses (2 ml/kg, 4ml/kg and 8ml/kg) for a period of three months and their bodyweight were monitored and taken weekly with the aid of electronic weighing balance while the haematological parameters were analyzed at the end of every month using standard methods. Results: Result showed that administration of C. aurantium juice caused a significant (p<0.05) weight reduction in the experimental animals from the first week through the twelfth week. Result further showed significant increase (p<0.05) in haemoglobin, platelet, red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts of the animals with no significant difference in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) levels. Conclusion: The findings in this study have shown that oral administration of C. aurantium juice is capable of causing weight loss without any detrimental effect on the haematological parameters.