April 2013 Vol. 1 Issue 2 

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Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical screening and effect of ethanolic root extract of Uvaria chamae on haematological parameters on albino rats in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

*Okon J. E.,¹ Udosen I. R.² and Mbong E. O.¹

¹Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, P. M. B. 1017, Uyo. Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria.
²Depatment of Biology, College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria.

*Corresponding    Author   E-mail: joesplendid@yahoo.com
Tel: +2348038811626.

Accepted March 20, 2013

Abstract

Phytochemical screening and effect of ethanolic root extract of Uvaria chamae on haematological parameters on albino rats in Akwa Ibom State was investigated. Haematological parameters studied were: haemoglobin concentration (Hb.), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet (PLT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Median lethal doses (LD50) of the extracts were examined intraperitoneally using albino mice. Experimental animals were divided into five groups of 5 rats each, groups I and II served as negative and positive control while groups III, IV and V were administered with the extract orally according to their body weight in doses of 173.21, 346.42 and 519.42 mg/kg body weight for 21 days respectively. Results of the phytochemical screening of Uvaria chamae revealed the presence of saponins, terpenes and cardiac glycosides. LD50 of Uvaria chamae was 692.82 mg/kg. U. chamae extracts significantly (P<0.05) increased Hb. Concentration, RBC, PLT, PCV, MCV count but with a significant (P<0.05) decrease in MCHC and total white blood cell (WBC). The significant increases in the haematological parameters were in dose-dependent fashion. The results of this study thus indicated that these haematological indices might possibly remedy anaemia and could also provide clinical information of Uvaria chamae ethanolic extracts as used by traditional medicine practitioners.

Keywords: Uvaria chamae root, Haematological indices, Phytochemical screening, Albino rats.