The effects of different dietary inclusion levels of bitter kola (<i>Garcinia kola</i>) on blood profiles of laboratory rats

Abstract

The effects of different inclusion levels of Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) on blood profiles of laboratory rats were investigated for a period of six weeks. Fifty male rats of average weight of 280g were assigned into 5 groups with each group containing 10 rats. Each group was fed diets containing 0% (w/w) control, 5% (w/w), 10% (w/w), 15% (w/w) and 20% (w/w) levels of Garcinia kola, respectively. There were no significant P>0.05 differences between the rats fed control diet and those in the various dietary groups in all the parameters measured with the exception of lymophocyte counts which had a significant difference at P<0.05 in all dietary groups except control. It was concluded that G. kola could be included at up to 20% level in the rat diets without causing any toxicity and much adverse effects on the blood profile of rats and hence its safety in man in views of its tremendous medicinal and socio economic uses in traditional African medicine in curing various diseases as well as immuno-modulators.

Keywords: bitter kola, blood, serum, laboratory rats

Tropical Veterinarian Vol. 23(2) 2005: 56-60