Haematinic and immunomodulatory effects of leaf extract of gongronema latifolium following the onslaught of mucosa ulceration in wistar rats

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a global public health problem; a higher burden of the infection was reported in developing countries including Nigeria and Cameroun. It has been associated with several gastrointestinal diseases, and recently implicated with some haematological abnormalities. This research was carried out to determine the effect of ethanol extract of Gongronema latifolium on haematological parameters of ulcerated Wistar rats.. The experiment was carried out on thirty-six (36) healthy male Wistar rats of weight ranges from (180-200) g. The rats were divide into six (6) groups of six (6) each. Group A served as normal control, Group B (standard control), C and D was treated with100 and 200mg/kg body weight of extract of Gongronema latifolium respectively, Group E and F, was induced with ulcer and treated with 200 and 400mg/kg body weight of extract of Gongronema latifolium respectively .The extract was administered orally for 14 days. After 14 days of administration all rats were fasted for 14 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the blood was collected by cardiac puncture. Blood samples collected in to EDTA bottles were analyzed for haematological profile. The extract showed a significant increase in (p<0.05) in LYM, RBC, PLT, PCV, MXD, Hb, of the ulcerated rats when compared with the normal and standard control. However, the extracts of G. latifolium showed a significant decrease in (p>0.05) in WBC and HCT when compared with the normal control. This present study suggests that the extract of Gongronema latifolium following the onslaught of mucosa might fight against foreign infection possibly by phagocytosis or by generating antibodies that might enhance immune response possibly by immunomodulatory or suppressant or adjuvant action or by generating antibodies that might enhance immune response and might be a panacea to anaemic condition following mucosa ulceration.