Effect of <i>Prosopis africana</i> ethanolic leaf extracts on packed cell volume of <i> Rattus norvegicus</i>

Abstract

This research sort to find out if Prosopis africana ethanolic leaf extract can help in fighting against anaemia in animals which is among the major causes of death in animals in developing countries. Seventy-five albino rats of 90 days old and approximately 200g were used. The rats were randomly selected and placed into five cages representing five different treatments. The extract of Prosopis africana was given to the rats in solution as daily water. Group A rats (cage A) received 0 ml of the extract per 100 ml of distilled water and served as control group. Group B rats (cage B) received 1 ml of extract in 100 ml of distilled water, group C rats (cage C) received 2 ml of extract in 100 ml of distilled water, and group D rats (cage D) received 3 ml of extract in 100ml of distilled water, while group E rats (cage E) received 4ml of the extract in 100 ml of distilled water. Blood samples were collected weekly for eight weeks using capillary tubes and centrifuged with haematocrit centrifuge at 10,000 rpm for 5 minutes. At the end of the experiment, it was discovered that rats in cage E had the highest level of PCV (45.70%), followed by rats in cage D (42.93%) and those in cage C (41.97%). Rats in cage B had the lowest PCV among the treated groups, while rats in cage A had the lowest PCV among the treated and untreated groups.

Keywords: Prosopis africana, Rattus norvegicus, Packed cell volume, Anaemia

Animal Research International (2012) 9(1): 1537 – 1539