By Enweh, Bertha Omasirichi
The study investigated micronutrient contents and effects of Jatropha curcas and Brillantasia nitens leaves extracts in anaemia induced albino adult male rats. Thirty five male albino adult rats weighing between 90-155g were purchased from Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The rats were housed in individual metabolic cages. The rats were weighed and allotted into seven (7) groups of five (5) rats. The difference in weight of rats in each group was not more than five grammes (5g). Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were injected with cyclophosphamide to induce anaemia in the rats. Group one served as a control group without anaemia and was fed animal feed and water only. Six groups of rats were fed animal feed, water, Jatropha curcas and Brillantasia nitens leaves extracts. Groups 2- 4 were fed 100mg, 200mg and 300mg/kg body weight respectively of Jatropha curca leaf extract. Groups 5- 7 were fed 100mg, 200mg and 300mg/kg body weight respectively of Brillantasia nitens leaf extract. Chemical and biochemical analyses were determined using standard method. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Service Solution (version 21) (SPSS). Duncan’s Studentised New Multiple Range Test was used to separate and compare means at 5% probability. The two extracts had high and comparable moisture contents (97.69 and 97.99%). They had low protein, ash, fat and carbohydrate. Phytochemical compositions were: 1.06% for alkaloid, 0.38% for flavonoid and 0.63% for saponins for Jatropha curcas. Brillantasia nitens had 1.55% for alkaloid, 2.13% for flavonoid and 0.18% for saponins. Brillantasia nitens had phytate 18.83 mg and oxalate 0.22%. Jatropha curcas had higher value for iron 0.74mg and that of Brillantasia nitens was 0.08mg. The zinc content of Jatropha curcas was 0.10mg and 0.12mg for Brillantasia nitens. Brillantasia nitens leaves extracts had higher values in all the vitamins analysized, 42.13mg for vitamin C, 629.00IU/L for beta carotene, 0.78 mg for vitamin E, 2.83 mg for vitamin B6 and 672.00µg for vitamin B9. The extracts tremendously increased the packed cell volume of all the rats. The highest increase was that of group 4 fed 300mg of Brillantasia nitens followed by 200mg of same leaf extract (70.32% and 58.78% respectively). There were slight increases in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of rats fed Jatropha curcas. The rats fed diets 300mg of Brillantasia nitens had the highest increase in heamoglobin (70.71%). The extracts increased the red blood cell count of all the rats. The white blood cell increased in rats fed 200 and 300mg of Jatropha curcas (4.86% and 14.93% respectively). There was a decrease in white blood cell of all rats fed Brillantasia nitens leaf extract. All groups of rats had an increase in alanine amino transferase (ALT) activities and deceases in aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. The haematinic potential of these extracts may be due to the phytochemical component of the extracts that increased the haematological indices. The micronutrient constituents of the extracts appear to be the major possible active component accountable for the haematinic effect. Jatropha curcas and Brillantasia nitens leave extracts had high nutritive value and as such could be use in management of anaemia.