THE EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS VERNONIA amygdalina (BITTER LEAF) EXTRACT ON THE LIPID PROFILE AND SOME HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN RATS EXPOSED TO CYANIDE

Abstract

Despite the fact that cyanide is known to be toxic, it is found in popular foods consumed by humans and animals, there is therefore the need to find an appropriate food that can help ameliorate its effect in both man and animals. The study aims to determine the effect of different concentrations of bitter leaf extract (BLE) on hematological parameters and blood lipid profile of rats exposed to cyanide. A total of twenty four rats were used for this study and they were divided into six groups, each containing four rats. All groups were fed with growers mash and in addition Group 1 (control) was given water only, Group 2 was given cyanide alone, Groups 3, 4 and 5 were given 100,200 and 300 mg/kgb.wt of BLE and cyanide respectively. The experiment was carried out in 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin level (Hb), Red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood cell count (WBC) was determined using known biochemical procedures. The results indicated a significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) in PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC level of Groups 3, 4 and 5 when compared to the cyanide group (Group 2).  The result from the experiment indicates that total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) were significantly lower in all the treated groups (Groups 3, 4 and 5) when compared with the untreated group given cyanide alone (Group 2). However, no significant difference in TC was indicated in all the groups given different concentration of bitter leaf extract (BLE) when compared with the control (Group 1) and no statistical difference in TG was also indicated in the groups given 200 and 300 mg BLE when compared with the control. A significantly higher HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) was however recorded in all the groups given diffeDespite the fact that cyanide is known to be toxic, it is found in popular foods consumed by humans and animals, there is therefore the need to find an appropriate food that can help ameliorate its effect in both man and animals. The study aims to determine the effect of different concentrations of bitter leaf extract (BLE) on hematological parameters and blood lipid profile of rats exposed to cyanide. A total of twenty rats were used for this study and they were divided into five groups, each containing four rats. All groups were fed with growers mash and in addition Group 1 (control) was given water only, Group 2 was given cyanide alone, Groups 3, 4 and 5 were given 100,200 and 300 mg/kgb.wt of BLE and cyanide respectively. The experiment was carried out in 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin level (Hb), Red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood cell count (WBC) was determined using known biochemical procedures. The results indicated a significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) in PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC level of Groups 3, 4 and 5 when compared to the cyanide group (Group 2).  The result from the experiment indicates that total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) were significantly lower in all the treated groups (Groups 3, 4 and 5) when compared with the untreated group given cyanide alone (Group 2). However, no significant difference in TC was indicated in all the groups given different concentration of bitter leaf extract (BLE) when compared with the control (Group 1) and no statistical difference in TG was also indicated in the groups given 200 and 300 mg BLE when compared with the control. A significantly higher HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) was however recorded in all the groups given different concentration of BLE when compared to cyanide alone. The study reveals that bitter leaf in respective of the dose is able to improve the hematological parameters and lipid profile in cyanide exposed rats.rent concentration of BLE when compared to cyanide alone. The study reveals that bitter leaf in respective of the dose is able to improve the hematological parameters and lipid profile in cyanide exposed rats.