Effect Of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Telfairia occidentalis on 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine Induced Anaemic Rats

Abstract

Anaemia constitutes a serious health problem in many tropical countries including Nigeria because of the high prevalence of malaria and other parasitic infections which possibly leads to a decrease in hemoglobin. Fluted pumpkin has been reported to be very good in building the constituents of the blood and replacing them. This study investigated the effects of the methanolic leaves extract of fluted pumpkin on some hematological parameters in 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-induced anaemic rats. Thirty Wister rats of both sexes were separated into five groups of six rats each. Group 1 serves as normal control, while groups 2-5 were induced with anaemia using 40mg/kg body weight of 2,4- dinitrophenylhydrazine. Group 2 serves as the negative control without treatment, group 3 were given 20 mg/kg (b.w) of standard hematinic drug astymin, and group 4 and 5 were administered with 200 and 400 mg/kg w/w methanolic leaves extract of Telfairia occidentals respectively. All rats were fed with grower’s mash and water ad libitum for 21 days. The rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. All analysis was done using standard methods. The result of this study demonstrated that oral administration of 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the extract increased the haematological parameters under investigation. A significant (p<0.05) increase in haematinic activity was observed in group 3 and 5, and it was concluded that methanolic leaves extract of fluted pumpkin could be effective in ameliorating anaemia. Keywords: Anemia; Telfairia occidentalis; 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine; Haematological