Haematological and biochemical evaluation of the n-hexane extract of Ricinus communis var. minor (RICOM-1013-J) in adult Sprague-Dawley albino rats
Abstract
The study undertook to evaluate the sub-chronic toxicological profile of the seed of Ricinus communis var. minor (RICOM-1013-J), widely used as anticonceptive agent among Bassa people of Plateau State, Nigeria, on haematological and biochemical parameters in adult rats. Thirty-six (36) adult female rats were divided into four groups of 9 rats each, and allowed to acclimatize for 1 week. Group 1 rats served as control and were administered 0.12 ml/Kg vegetable oil subcutaneously. The other rats housed as groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with 5, 20 and 30 mg/Kg of the extract of RICOM-1013-J as single dose, respectively. Another set of thirty-six (36) adult female rats, also divided into four groups of 9, were similarly treated. 3 rats from each group and from both sets were anaesthetized with 60 mg/Kg phenobarbitone intraperitoneally, and blood samples obtained from the femoral vein for the determination of haematological and biochemical parameters on days 7, 42 and 56 post-treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in haematological parameters between the experimental and control groups in the study. Similarly, although RICOM-1013-J caused general increase in mean levels of the biochemical parameter in treated rats relative to controls, there was also no statistically significant adverse effect on both liver and renal function tests. The study concludes that RICOM-1013-J may have no adverse effect on both haematological and biochemical parameters in rats, and presents a potentially significant breakthrough in family planning technology.
Keywords: Ricinus communis; RICOM-1013-J; antifertility; haematological parameters; biochemical indices; safety
Copyright of articles published shall reside exclusively with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos.
DECLARATION & COPYRIGHT TRANSFER
I/We the undersigned author(s) of article entitled
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Declare as follows:
- The manuscript submitted to Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources is original and has not been and will be published, whole or in part, in print or electronic format, in any other journal. It is also not being currently considered for publication in any journal.
- The submitted manuscript is a joint decision of all the coauthors.
- Each author has participated sufficiently in the work to warrant his or her inclusion in the list of authors. To this end, each author takes responsibility for appropriate portions of the manuscript.
- Authors have obtained necessary approval to carry out the experiments on animals and human subjects. Approval certificates will be furnished, if required by publishers or editors of the journal.
- Authors do not have any conflict of interest (financial or otherwise) other than those declared.
- If the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors transfer and assign copyright of the article referenced above to Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources.
Name & Signature of authors
1. 2.
- 4.
- 6.
- 8.
Corresponding authors name address, affiliation and email:
