Erythropoietic Effects of Eremomastax polysperma Leaf Extracts on Female Prepubertal and Pubertal Wistar Rats
O. E. Mboso *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
M. O. Odey
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
F. E. Uboh
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
N. M. Essien
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
O. Chidinma
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
E. U. Eyong
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study assessed the erythropoietic effect of Eremomastax polysperma leaf extracts in female albino Wistar rats. Method: Twenty eight (28) female rats were divided into two major groups based on their weight and age. The duration of administration of E. polysperma extracts lasted for twenty one (21) days. This study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry University of Calabar, between February and March 2013. A significant increase (P<0.05) in red blood cell count (RBC) (8.17±0.48, 6.46±0.37) and Haemoglobin (Hb) count (15.13±1.03, 13.27±0.7) was observed in the prepubertal group compared to the control, while packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the pubertal group compared to the control (55.40±4.40, 48.63±2.33 respectively). This suggests that E. polysperma leaf extract can be used as a haematinic and a therapy for anaemic conditions.
Keywords: Eremomastax polysperma, erythropoietic, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, wistar rats