Haematological Parameters of Albino Rats Exposed to Lead Metal: Alleviating Effect of Cocos nucifera l. Water and Pisum sativum Extract

Abstract

Lead is among the most persistent environmental contaminants that adversely affect health of organisms. Measuring lead level in blood is a commonly accepted and verifiable biomarker for lead exposure. Hence, this study evaluates the effect of lead poisoning on haematological parameters in forty-eight wistar albino rats and the alleviating potency of Cocos nucifera water and Pisum sativum extract. The results showed a significant reduction in the mean values of white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin content, hematocrit percent, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, lymphocytes, red blood cell distribution width except in blood platelets count in the group of rats exposed to lead nitrate when compare to the control group. However these values increased in the group of rat administered with both lead nitrate and Cocos nucifera water or both lead nitrate and Pisum sativum extract only. Much improvement was seen in the mean values of WBC, RBC, haemoglobin content, HCt%, MCV, MCH, and MCHC in the group of rat administered with lead nitrate, Cocos nucifera water and Pisum sativum extract. These findings suggest that, Cocus nucifera water and Pisum sativum extract could alleviate the effect of lead toxicity in the haematological parameters of albino rats.
Keywords: Toxin abatement Coconut water, Green pea, Lead, Rattus norvegicus