Evaluation of Aframomum melegueta aqueous seed extract on food and water consumption in albino rats

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of seed extract of Aframomum melegueta on water and feed intake in albino rats. The aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta was administered (p.o) to the animals for 28 days and water and food given 7hrs daily. The animals were divided into four groups of six rats both of the males and females comprising of control groups, 200, 400 and 600mg/kg extract. There was a gradual increase in food intake which affected their body weights dose dependently. Water consumption by all the treated groups from both male and female increased significantly (P≤0.05) when compared with the control groups. The reason could be that there was alteration in the hypothalamus which is a centre that controls appetite and thirst. Conclusively, it induced Polydypsia which represents a compensatory mechanism that maintains total body fluids within normal limits and therefore could be used safely for the management of diseases.