Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR)
Volume-4 | Issue-03 | 100-104
Original Research Article
Consumption of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Piper guineense Alters Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Wistar Rats
Aribo EO, Udefa AL, Beshel FN
Published : March 30, 2019
Abstract
Much research has concentrated on the seed extracts of Piper guineense and not on the leaves which are widely
consumed and hence this study. Fifteen male wistar rats weighing 150-250g were randomly divided into control, low
dose (LD) and high dose (HD) groups of five rats each. LD and HD groups received 250mg/kg and 350mg/kg b.w.
respectively of aqueous leaf extract of Piper guineense by gavaging. Duration of feeding was thirty days. The results
showed significant increases (p<0.001) in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) in both LD and HD groups compared with control. Serum total cholesterol (TC) was significantly (p<0.001)
increased in both LD and HD groups compared with control. Serum triglyceride (TG) was significantly increased in HD
group compared with control (P < 0.001) and LD (P<0.001) groups. High density lipoprotein (HDL-c) was significantly
increased (p<0.001) in LD compared with control and decreased (p<0.001) in HD compared with control and LD groups.
Low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) was significantly increased in LD (p<0.001) and HD (p<0.01) compared with control
and decreased in HD (p<0.001) compared with LD. TG/HDL-c in the HD group was significantly (p<0.001) increased
compared with control and LD groups. Aside RBC count and MCH which were significantly increased (p<0.05) and
decreased (p<0.05) respectively in HD compared with LD group, all other haematological parameters (Hb, PCV, MCHC,
MCV and WBC and platelet counts) did not differ significantly among the groups. In conclusion, consumption of
aqueous leaf extract of Piper guineense causes dyslipidemia and elevation of liver enzymes but no significant effect on
hematological indices.