ABSTRACT

Green leafy vegetables are indispensable in human diets, especially in Africa, providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fibers which help in combating anaemia and other nutritional defieciencies. However, underutilized vegetables like Piper methysticum remain underexplored despite their potential nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aqueous extracts of Piper methysticum on some haematological parameters in 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine anaemic rats. The P. methysticum leaves were turned to extract and the chemical contents were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The results of the proximate showed that the leaves had moisture content 9.62%, fat content 1.07%, crude fibre 8.67%, crude protein 14.94% and carbohydrate 55.43%. The results of the mineral evaluation showed that the leaves had Fe (5.84 mg/100g), Zn (3.64 mg/100g), Cu (0.79 mg/100g) and Mn (0.47 mg/100g). Rats were made anaemic with phenylhydrazine administered at 40mg/kg body weight, grouped and labelled Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 respectively with Group 1 (normal rats: not induced) serving as the positive control, Group 2 (anaemia induced: no treatment) serving as the negative control. Groups 3 and 4 were treated with low dose extract (150mg/kg body weight) and high dose extract (300mg/kg body weight). After 15 consecutive days of treatment, blood samples were collected from the rats and used to evaluate the effects of the extracts on their PCV, RBC and haemoglobin. The data generated were statistically analysed using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Paired T-test. The results of the RBC, PCV and haemoglobin analysis showed that the Group 1 had the highest values at 7.01  0.06, 44.67  0.67 and 15.73  0.18 respectively, Group 4 had the second highest at 5.58  0.20, 39.33  0.38 and 13.67  0.14 respectively while Group 2 had the lowest values 3.13 0.02, 27.00 0.33 and 9.07 0.07 respectively. The study concludes that P. methysticum elevated the packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration in anaemic rats and consumption should be encouraged as the leaves can be used as a cure for anaemia.