ISSN: 2474-9214
Authors: Edet Okon Akpanyung*, Itoro Joseph Archibong, Idiongo Okon Umoh and Utibe-Evans Bassey
The present study evaluated the effect of methanol extract of the fruit peels of ripe plantain (an agricultural waste) on some haematological and biochemical indices in male Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening of the ripe peel extract was carried out using standard methods. The oral median lethal dose (LD50) was determined. Twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 6 rats per group. Group 1 served as control. Groups 2 - 4 were administered 285.00, 570.00 and 855.00 mg/kg per body weight respectively of the ripe plantain peel extract for a period of 14 days. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and analyzed for some hematological and biochemical parameters. Phytochemical screening of the ripe peel extract indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. Acute toxicity study gave an LD50 of 2849.56 mg/kg. Treatment of experimental animals with the extract caused a dose dependent increase in white blood cell count (WBC), red blood count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) in the medium and high dose groups. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low-density lipoproteincholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol did not show any significant changes (p˃0.05) between control and treatment groups. Also, there were no significant changes (p˃0.05) in the serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. These findings suggest thatthe ripe fruit peels of M. paradisiaca are non-toxic and could positively impact hematopoiesis. Hence, these peels could be further exploited for nutritional and pharmacological purposes.
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