Haematological and Lipid Studies of Methanol Stem Bark Extract of Detarium microcarpum in Rats

Abstract

Detarium microcarpum (DM) also known as Tallow tree or Sweet dattock trees are used as medicinal plant in northern Nigeria for the management of disease and ailments. In this study, the stem bark extract (methanol) of D. microcarpum was evaluated for phytochemical constituents, haematological parameters, serum lipid and its effect on body weight of the rats. The preliminary phytochemical studies were carried out using standard protocols. The oral median LD50 of the stem bark extract was calculated to be 471.2 mg/kg body weight in rats. The haematological studies showed significant (p<0.05) increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at doses of 70 and 140 mg/kg and also a significant (p<0.05) elevation of lymphocytes at all the doses tested. Serum lipid profile indicated significant (p<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) at 70 and 140 mg/kg. The extract at dose of 140 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreases the mean body weight of the rats after the third and fourth week of oral administration.