Synergistic Effects of Leaves Extracts of Moringa oleifera and Telfairia occidentalis on Some Haemagram and Serum Protein Indices of Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

A combined administration of Moringa oleifera and Telfairia occidentalis leaves are increasingly been employed in herbal medicine in recent time. This study aimed at investigating the synergistic effect of hydroethanolic leaves extracts of M. oleifera (HLMO) and T. occidentalis (HLTO) on serum protein and haematological parameters of rats. Twenty adult wistar rats of both sexes (185 – 250 g) were randomly distributed into four groups of five rats per group. Group 1 (control) received distilled water treatment equivalence, groups 2, 3 and 4 received 300 mg / kg body weight of HLTO, HLMO and MOTO (HLMO and HLTO equal ratio of 1:1) orally for 14 days respectively. Rats were fed with standard feed and clean water ad libitum and were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment. Results obtained showed significant increase (p<0.05) in packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration in group 2 and 4 compared to the control. Significant increase (p<0.05) in lymphocyte was observed in group 3. Total WBC count and albumin increased slightly in all the treatment groups when compared with control. There were significant decreases (p<0.05) in total serum protein and globulin in group 4 compared with control. Our findings therefore, suggest that the synergy of the extracts could better enhance erythropoietin and haemoglobin production than individual extract. The duo extracts modulated serum total protein exempting globulin in rats.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Telfairia occidentaslis, leaves extracts, synergistic effects