Effect of Aqueous Fruit Extract of Azanza garckeana on Some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Wistar Rats

Background and Objective: Azanza garckeana fruit is widely consumed in Africa both as food and as herbal medicine. This study evaluated the safety of the aqueous fruit extract of Azanza garckeana. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 received distilled water while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 received 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg b.wt., aqueous Azanza garckeana fruit extract respectively for 14 days. After sacrificing the rats on the 15th day, the blood, serum liver and kidney function parameters were evaluated using standard procedures. Results: The red blood cell (RBC) count of the rats administered aqueous fruit extract of Azanza garckeana significantly increased (p<0.05) when compared with the control. The values of hemoglobin (HB), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) significantly increased (p<0.05) at 600 and 800 mg/kg b.wt., aqueous fruit extract of Azanza garckeana when compared with the control. The extract significantly increased (p<0.05) the level of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) when compared with the control. The values of direct bilirubin, total bilirubin and albumin at 600 and 800 mg/kg b.wt., significantly increased (p<0.05) when compared with the control. The significant increase in all the liver function indices was within the normal range. All the kidney function indices assayed were not significantly different (p<0.05) from the control. Conclusion: The aqueous fruit extract of Azanza garckeana is not toxic to the liver, kidney and blood.