Effect of methanolic extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum (African walnut) seeds on haematological parameters of carbon tetrachloride treated male rats

Abstract

The effect of the methanolic extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds on the haematological parameters of carbon tetrachloride treated male rats was investigated. Thirty two albino rats (170 ±10.0) g were assigned into 8 groups of 4 rats each. Animals in Group I (control) was given distilled water only, while those in groups II, III and IV were administered T. conophorum extract at different concentrations of 250, 500, 750 mg/kg body weight daily for two weeks, thereafter, they were given the extract three times per week for three weeks. Group V received CCl₄ only (positive control) at a dose of 0.598g/kg body weight. Groups VI, VII, and VIII animals were given the extract (same doses), for two weeks, then CCl₄ was given orally for two weeks, three times per week simultaneously with the extract. The results showed that CCl₄ only produced significant decrease (P<0.05) in white blood cell (WBC count), red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), platelets, plasma viscosity (PV), fibrinogen (FB), mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) while there was significant increase (P>0.05) in lymphocytes when compared with the control. When the extract was administered alone there was significant increase (P<0.05) in white blood cell, lymphocytes, plasma viscosity, and fibrinogen, while platelets were reduced significantly (P<0.05) when compared with the control. Furthermore, when the extract was administered to CCl₄ treated rats, there was significant increase (P<0.05) in WBC, RBC, HCT, PV and FB while platelets, neutrophils were reduced significantly (P<0.05) when compared with the positive control. The results of this study suggest that T.conophorum extract could have a potential for the management of haematological disorders and protect blood cells from the damaging effect of CCl₄.