Assessment of Haematological and Biochemical Effects of Kolaviron in Male Wistar Rats

This study determined the effects of kolaviron on the hematological and biochemical parameters of rats. The aim was to ascertain if its consumption has deleterious effects on these parameters. Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into four groups of ten animals each were used. The control group received 2 ml/kg propylene glycol only. Kolaviron (KV) was administered at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively to the experimental groups via oral route for 28 days. At the end of the study period, five rats were sacrificed under ketamine hydrochloride and the other 5 rats Original Research Article Alabi et al.; BJPR, 16(3): 1-14, 2017; Article no.BJPR.33517 2 were allowed to recover for 2 weeks. Hematological analysis was carried out, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and glucose were assayed from the plasma while the liver tissue was used for histopathological examination. Compared with the control group, white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte, red blood cells (RBCs) counts, hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were significantly higher in groups treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w of KV. However, plasma AST, ALT, ALP activities and bilirubin in 100 and 200 mg/kg KV were not significant different from that of the control. There was a significantly lower plasma glucose level in all KV treated groups when compared with the control. However, KV at 400 mg/kg had a significantly higher RBCs count with a significantly lower Hb, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and platelet count. The plasma AST, ALT activities and bilirubin level were also higher in 400 mg/kg b.w KV when compared with the control, but plasma ALP remain unchanged. At 400 mg/kg b.w KV, histological examination of the liver tissue showed sign of portal cellular infiltration, periportal congestion and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes in the liver, but restored toward normal after 2 weeks recovery period. This study confirmed that KV at 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w improve hematological indices with hypoglycemic and immune boosting effects in rats. However, KV at higher dosage (400 mg/kg b.w) has tendency to have deleterious effects on the liver and blood.