Combined Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Xylopia aethiopica   and Monodora myristica   Seeds on Lipid Profile and Haematological Indices in Rats Exposed to Cyanide

The purpose of this study was to determine combined effect of Xylopia aethiopica seed (Xa) and Monodora myristica seed extracts (Mm) on haematological parameters{pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) , red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood count (WBC) } and lipid profile {Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) }in cyanide exposed rats. The study was conducted using 32 male rats weighing between 120 to 150 g. The rats were divided into 8 groups of 4 rats in each group as follows; Group 1: (control), Group 2: cyanide control (exposed to cyanide only), Group 3: given Xa only, Group 4: given Mm only, Group 5: Xa+ Mm mixture only, Group 6: cyanide + Xa, Group 7: cyanide + Mm and Group 8: cyanide plus (Xa+Mm). The rats in Groups 3-8,were given the spice extracts 60mg (Xa, Mm and Xa+Mm mixture) at 1ml/kg three times per week, and Rats in Groups 2, 6, 7 and 8 received CN in form of NaCN solution at concentration of 9.0 mg/kg in the drinking tap water every day for 4 weeks. The results showed that the haematological parameters (PCV, HB, RBC and WBC) was significantly (p>0.05) increased in all the Groups treated with the Xa and Mm extracts (Groups 6, 7 and 8) when compared with the untreated Group 2. However there was no significant difference in the haematological parameters between the groups given the mixture of the two plant extracts Group 8 (Xa +Mm) and those given the two extracts separately Group 6 and 7). Results from the lipid profile indicated a significant decrease TC, LDL and TG in all the cyanide exposed rats treated with the extracts (Group 6, 7 and 8) when compared with the untreated Group 2, However a significantly lower TC, LDL and TG was indicated in Group 8 rats given the mixture when compared with Group 6 and 7 given Xa and Mm separately. In conclusion, the result indicates that although both extracts are able to improve the haematological and lipid profile parameters in cyanide exposed rats, the combined extracts (Xa+ Mm) gave better results in the lipid profile compared with the individual plant extracts in cyanide exposed rats.