Effects of Dietary Xylopia aethiopica on Serum Electrolytes and Trace Elements in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

The effect of dietary intake of various doses of powdered whole fruits of Xylopia aethiopica on some selected serum electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, HCO₃^-, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and PO₄^2-) and trace elements (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺) were investigated in male Wistar rats (weighing 120-150g body weight). The control rats received normal rat feed, while test animals were fed with three graded diet doses that contained Xylopia aethiopica at 1.5% w/w, 2.5% w/w and 5% w/w. Both control and test animals received their food, plus drinking water, ad libitum for six weeks. At the end of the treatment, blood was then obtained from all the animals and used for the various analyses of the serum electrolytes and trace elements here in reported. The results showed significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increases in mean serum concentrations of Ca²⁺, HCO₃^-, PO₄^2-, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺,and Mn²⁺. These alterations point to the positive effect of the spice on blood electrolyte homeostasis and its trace element ions content. It is speculated that these treatment-induced changes in serum electrolytes and trace elements play important roles in the documented antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antihypertensive, spasmodic and antifertility activities of the fruits of Xylopia aethiopica.

Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, fruits, electrolytes, trace elements