Assessment of the haematological indices of albino rats fed diets supplemented with jackfruit bulb, seed or a blend of bulb and seed

Abstract

Haematological indices of albino rats fed diets supplemented with jackfruit seed (S), bulb (B) or seedbulb blend (SB) were assessed. Diets were compounded to include 10%, 30%, and 50% of the seed (S10/90, S30/70, S50/50), bulb (B10/90,  B30/70, B50/50), and seed-bulb blend (SB10/90, SB30/70, SB50/50). Sixty male albino rats, divided into 10 groups of six rats each, were used. Group 1 (control) was fed rat chow only; groups 2-10 were fed the experimental diets. After 28 days of feeding, the animals were sacrificed and whole blood collected for full blood counts. The results, compared to the control (p<0.05), showed that supplementation  exceeding S30/70 and B10/90 or SB10/90 showed significant (p<0.05) loss of body weight. Total WBC, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the experimental groups. Hb was reduced in group B10/90 but RBC, Hb and PCV increased in B10/90 and SB10/90. The same trend was observed in MCV of groups B10/90 and B50/50. Platelet counts in the experimental groups were significantly similar to the control though lower in S30/70, B50/50 and SB50/50. Overall, data from this study suggest that diet supplementation with 10% jackfruit bulb or the seed-bulb blend is likely to provide some antianaemic benefits and enhance the immune system.

Keywords: Haematology, jackfruit, bulb, seed, supplementation.