August 2016 Vol. 4 No.8

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Original Research Article

Influences of doum fruit (Hyphaene thebaica) extract on the reproductive parameters, blood picture, lipid profile and hepato-renal functions in rats

Aida E. Bayad

Veterinary Services Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Email: aida_bayad@yahoo.com
Tel: +201002573202
Fax: +20452963526

Accepted August 08, 2016

Abstract

The fruits of doum have antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities. This study investigated the efficacy of the decoction of doum fruits on the reproductive parameters, blood picture, lipid profile and hepato-renal functions in rats. Acute toxicity studies (LD₅₀ values) were evaluated in rats. Single doses of the tested material were given orally and clinical signs, symptoms and mortality were recorded during 14- day observation period. The reproductive parameters (fertility index, sex ratio, no. of alive fetuses, no. of implantation, no. of resorption, weight at birth, the development and viability of first generation pups during the pre-weaning periods, and survival percent), blood picture [red blood corpuscles (RBCs), white blood corpuscles (WBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and phagocytic activity] and hepato-renal functions were investigated in rats. The results showed that the decoction of doum fruits is well tolerated and no mortality or morbidity until the dose of 5 g/kg b. wt. Repeated oral administration of doum fruits at 0.5 g/kg b. wt. or 2 g/kg b. wt. was ineffective on the normal reproductive parameters. While, the RBCs, PCV, Hb and percent of phagocytic activity were significantly increased. A significant decrease in blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipid levels were observed after one and two months of administration of the decoction of doum fruits. The obtained results confirm the value of doum fruits as haematinic potentials, hypolipidemic, improve the hepato-renal functions and without side effects on the studied reproductive parameters. The doum fruit under test may be of value in treatment of various health problems, improve lipid profile, hepato-renal functions, confirming its haematinic potential and no side effects on the investigated reproductive parameters .

Keywords: Blood picture, Doum, Hepato-renal functions, Lipid profile, Rats, Reproduction