Effects of Oral Administration of the Latex of Calotropis procera on weights, Hematology and Plasma Biochemistry in rats

Abstract

Keyword: Blood chemistry, Calotropis procera, HB, PCV, rat, weight The latex of Calotropis procera was obtained daily and administered to groups of rats through oral cannular in different sets of study. In one set of study, the latex was administered daily at varying doses and the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HB), white blood cell count (WBC), plasma protein, plasma total albumin and plasma electrolytes (NA+, K+, Ca2++ and PO42-) of the rats were determined on days 7 and 14. In another set of study, the latex was administered daily at varying doses for seven days following which the weights of the animals were determined. The latex was also administered daily in another set of study at varying doses for 90 days during which the rats' weights were recorded at 30, 60 and 90 days during treatment. The latex of C. procera did not produce significant changes in PCV, HB and RBC values. Similarly, there were no significant changes in the values of serum Ca2+, Na+, K+ and PO42-. The values of total blood protein and albumin were also not altered during treatment. The latex, however, caused significant increases in WBC values. Rats that received the latex lost weight while control rats gained weight. Deaths were recorded in treated groups during the acute and chronic phases of the study. It is concluded that the latex of C. procera has no significant effects on blood parameters but it readily causes loss of weight and would be detrimental to animal health during the long dry season in the semi-arid zone. Trop. Vet. Vol. 20(4) 2002: 218-225