This work examined the supplemental effects of Telfairia occidentalis Hook.F. leaf extract compared to a standard hematinic drug, Ranferon -12 ®, on the performance of thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly assigned into six groups of six rats each, and were fed standard rat ration at 80 % of ad lib within 24 hours. Access to clean water was allowed ad libitum. The leaf extract was administered orally at the dose of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, 600mg/kg, and 800mg/kg (for groups 1-4 respectively), and group 5 was given Ranferon 12® (at 0.3ml/kg), while group 6 (Control) received no extract but water. The extract was administered once daily for 21 days, while feed intake, weight gain, water intake, haematology, and some liver enzymes as well as cholesterol levels were the parameters measured. Results also revealed that weight gain, water intake and total WBC were significantly higher in group 3(600mg/kg) compared to other groups, while group 5 (Ranferon-12®) had significantly higher Packed cell volume and total red blood cell counts. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the liver enzymes and cholesterol levels of rats in all groups. The results of this study have shown that supplementation with Telfairia occidentalis leaf extract was quite beneficial as it produced a significantly higher weight gain at 600mg/kg, and that neither increased dose of extract nor supplementation with Ranferon-12 ® yielded any special advantage.
Nwaigwe Chukwuemeka Onyekachi, Nwaigwe Chioma Uchenna and Leo Shedua
