EFFECT OF Carica papya SEED EXTRACTS ON RED BLOOD CELLS AND PLATELETS INDICES IN PHENYLHYDRAZINE INDUCEDANAEMIA WISTAR RATS

Abstract The hematological condition known as anemia is typified by a decrease in red blood cells or an inadequate oxygen-binding capacity of haemoglobin molecule to transport oxygen to different tissues and satisfy physiological needs. Anaemia remains a major health burden. The healthcare system benefits greatly from the use of medicinal plants, particularly in rural areas. Carica papaya is one such plant that has a broad range of patronage. The goal of the current study was to find out how Carica papaya seeds affected the platelet and red blood cell indices in anaemic wistar rats models. In this study, thirty rats weighing 150 – 190g were split up into six groups, each with five rats. Anemia was not induced in the first group (group I) and served as normal control. Group II received phenylhydrazine40mg/kg only group III received phenylhydrazine40mg/kg and folic acid and B12treatment, group IV, V and VI were given papaya seed extracts for a14 day period at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg, respectively. Result of red blood cell count in folic acid+ B12 treatment group (7.14±0.22) and papaya seed extract in anaemia + 200mg/kg(7.18±0.26), anaemia + 400mg/kg (6.82±0.37) and anaemia + 800mg/kg (7.43±0.19) showed a statistically significant increase compared to untreated control group (5.66±0.26).The haemoglobin concentration as well showed a statistically significant increase from untreated anaemic group(8.70±0.40) to anaemia folic +B12 treated (13.24±0.39) anaemia + 200mg/kg(13.66±0.50), anaemia+ 400mg/kg(3.34±0.39) and anaemia + 800mg/kg (13.37±0.12). There was also an observed improvement in the haematocrit from the anaemic untreated group(24.2±1.35) compared to the anaemic +folic + B12(35.6±0.82) and anaemia+200mg/kg(37.8±1.14), anaemia+ 400mg/kg(36.6±0.82) and anaemia +800mg/kg (36.9±0.57) The MCV showed only a statistically significant decrease in anaemic + folic acid+ B12 group(51.7±0.88) compared to the negative control group (54.6±1.06) for MCH ,MCHC RDW-CV and RDW-SD there was no statistical significance across the groups. The platelet count of anaemia + folic acid + B12 (636±27), anaemia + 200 mg/kg (699±49), anaemia + 400 mg (658±50), and anaemia + 800 mg/kg (620±37) were all statistically insignificantly higher than the anaemic and untreated group (557±64) group. The MPV as well as PCT showed similar trend in the study. In this research it was concluded that papaya seed extract has an effect on red cell and platelet but little effect on their indices and shows good potential as an anti-anaemic treatment.