Effect of Bitter Extra on selected haematological parameters of adult male Wistar rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bitter Extra is a brand of herbal product adjudged to be efficacious in the treatment of various ailments.

AIM: This present study was aimed at investigating the effect of Bitter Extra on some hematological parameters of adult male Wistar Rats.

METHODOLOGY: Sixteen adult male Wistar Rats of weights ranging from 155g-230g were used and divided into four groups with four rats in each group. Group 1 served as the control and was given standard diet and water ad libitum while groups 2, 3 and 4 were taken as the test groups and administered with varying doses of Bitter Extra.

RESULTS: Among all the groups, there were no significant changes (P>0.05) in the mean body weights of the rats in the test groups compared with the control group which indicates that Bitter Extra has no effect on body weight. However, in the haematological parameters, the increased changes observed among the groups in Mean Cell Volume were significant (P<0.05). Also, the Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin was significantly high (P<0.05) among all the groups when compared with the control group. The Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration shows no significant difference in all the test groups when compared with the control group (P>0.05). At higher dose, Bitter Extra causes significant increase in White Blood Cell count, an indication of inflammatory property. Also, it causes insufficient production of RBCs at high dose resulting to iron deficiency hypochromic microcytic anemia.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Bitter Extra is potentially harmful especially with repeated usage, necessitating the need to avoid indiscriminate use.