Suitability of the leaf extract of Jatropha gossypifolia as an anticoagulant for biochemical and haematological analyses

Abstract

The extract of Jatropha gossypifolia leaf was obtained by crushing the leaf in a mortal and the fluid expressed out. The suitability of the leaf extract as an anticoagulant for biochemical and haematological analyses was determined. The anticoagulant effect of the extract was found to be highest at a concentration of 0.1 ml per ml of blood. Blood tubes with dried leaf extract at the stated concentration were used for obtaining plasma. Mean plasma glucose values obtained from fluoride oxalate plasma were compared with values obtained from dried leaf extract plasma. The values obtained for biochemical parameters with the exception of bicarbonate from the leaf extract plasma samples were significantly higher (P<0.05) than values obtained from conventional anticoagulants. The leaf extract was later found to contain each of these parameters in high concentrations. The results of heamatological parameters obtained from the leaf extract and those of the dipotassium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid were comparable. The leaf extract is suitable as an anticoagulant for heamatological analysis but must be purified to remove interfering substances for it to be suitable for biochemical analysis.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (7), pp. 679-681, 2005