Xylopia aethiopica Fruit Extract elevated Red Blood Cell Parameters but Reduced White Blood Cell Parameters in Wistar Rats

Emmanuel O. Ogbuagu¹, Augustine I. Airaodion²*, Chika L. Uche³, Uloaku Ogbuagu², Edmund O. Ezirim⁴, Prince C. Unekwe⁵ and Ifeoma N. Nweke¹

¹Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria

²Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

³Department of Haematology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

⁵Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s: E-mail Address ✉: augustineairaodion@yahoo.com; Phone no ☎: +234,07030204212

Accepted May 02, 2022

Recently, the consumption of Xylopia aethiopica fruits has gained popularity, especially among the Igbos of South Eastern Nigeria. This study focused on the implication of the consumption of Xylopia aethiopica fruits on hematological parameters using Wistar rats as a model. The fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were purchased, air-dried, and extracted using Soxhlet apparatus and ethanol as solvent. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was determined using the standard method. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Animals in groups A, B, C, and D were administered 130 mg/kg, 259 mg/kg, 389 mg/kg, and 518 mg/kg body weight of X. aethiopica fruit extract respectively, while those in group E received normal feeds and water only. The administration was done once daily for 28 days via the oral route. Hematological parameters were investigated using standard methods. The results showed that the extract significantly increased red blood cell parameters but decreased white blood cell parameters, especially at high doses. This result indicates that Xylopia aethiopica fruits possessed erythropoietic properties and can be used to boost blood levels, especially in anemia patients. However, the plant extract possessed the propensity to weaken the immune system due to the significant decrease observed in the white blood cell (WBC) parameters.

Key words: Haematopoiesis, weakened immunity, Xylopia aethiopica fruits

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