This study investigated the effects of leaf protein concentrate (LPC) of Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod on some haematological and serum profile of 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into nine groups of five rats per group. The rats received fresh drinking water daily, with feed at 85% of ad-lib. The standard haematinic used was Ranferon-12®, at the dose of 0.3ml/kg body weight. The resultant groups were; Group1 (Positive control, received commercial feed) Group 2 (phenylhydrazine only or negative control), Group 3 (anaemia +haematinic), 4, 5 and 6 (anaemia +100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of LPC respectively), Groups 7, 8, 9 (Untreated (or UT) +100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of LPC respectively). The LPC was administered orally to the designated groups, while the controls received distilled water in place of the LPC. Anaemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of phenylhydrazine at 40 mg/kg for 2 days. Samples for haematological and biochemical analysis were collected on days 9, 21 and 28 of the experiment. Results showed that the groups supplemented with LPC were better in terms of the haematology and serum biochemical values compared to the negative control, and this strongly supported the traditional use of E. speciosa leaf in the treatment of anaemia.
Chukwuemeka Onyekachi Nwaigwe, Chioma Uchenna Nwaigwe, Uchechukwu Chukwudi Obiekwe, Lukman Oladimeji Raji
