Serum Haematological Response of Rats Fed with African Palmyra Palm (Borassus aethiopum) Shoots Obtained in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

African Palmyrah palm (B. aethiopum) shoots “Muruchi” is widely consumed as an important source of food for the rural people in Northern Nigeria. The study investigates changes in the hematological parameters in rats fed with diets containing varying concentration of Borassus aethiopum shoots. Thirty two albino rats weighing 165g to 250g of both sexes were used for this study. Standard methods were used to assess the behavioral changes and haematological analyses on the animals and the blood respectively. The results showed no any change in the normal behavior of the rats fed with the shoots when compared with the control group, however no mortality was recorded throughout the period of treatment. White blood cells (WBC), Red blood cells (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PVC), Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), Mean cell volume (MCV) and Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in all the treated groups showed a general decrease not significantly (p<0.05) different compared with the control. While platelets showed a significance (p < 0.05) increase at higher doses compared with the control. On the other hand, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and neutrophiles showed a general increase compared to the control group, while basophiles was not detected. The results obtained suggests that Borassus aethiopum shoots is relatively nontoxic and has the potential of defending the body against infection and also has hematinic and blood enhancing quality.