Effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of <i>Pleurotus tuber regium</i> on the haematological indices of albino wistar rats

Abstract

Pleurotus tuber regium, particularly the sclerotium is an important dietary component due to its nutritional value, since it is composed of micro- and macro- elements. Examples include potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, as well as classes of food such as protein, carbohydrate, vitamins (B1, B2, D2 and C), unsaturated fatty acids, low fat content, albumin, globulin, prolamines, and glutelin. This study is aimed at determining the effects of Pleurotus tuber regium on haematological indices of Albino Wistar rats. The Wistar rats were grouped and each group administered with aqueous and ethanol extracts of Pleurotus tuber regium respectively for a period of 14 days and blood samples obtained for complete blood count (CBC) using the Abacus Junior Haematology Analyser (S/N 111325). The rats fed with aqueous extracts recorded higher values of RBC (8.31±0.5x10¹²/L), haemoglobin (13.1±0.8g/DL), haematocrit (53.02±3.8%) as well as platelet count (788.6±157.4x10⁹/L) and plateletcrit (0.71±0.1%) compared to the ethanol and control groups with lower values. The aqueous group however recorded low WBC (8.68±3.22x10⁹/L) and Lymphocytes (5.16±2.0x10⁹/L) compared to the other two groups, with the ethanol groups recording the highest value for the lymphocyte (7.91±2.8x10⁹/L). The aqueous extract can thus serve as an ideal haematinics, since the values of RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit are within the normal value for the female Wistar rats used. It could also serve as an immune booster due to the increased level of lymphocytes, because in the presence of pathogenic microbes, the body is primed to fight infection by releasing lymphocytes.

Keywords:  Pleurotus tuber regium, Wistar rats, haematocrit, plant extract, blood count