ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to determine the effects of ethanol leaves extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on haematological indices of mature albino wistar rats. 20 albino wistar rats, weighing between 116g – 260g were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals per group based on body weight. Group 1 was the normal control and was fed with distilled water and normal rat feed. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 100, 250 and 500mg of extract respectively per kg body weight. Administration period was for 14 days through oral gavaging. Data were obtained using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and result were considered significant at p>0.05. The result obtained showed that the extract caused an increase in white blood cells (WBCs), Red Blood Cells (RBCs), Lymphometes as well as other haematological parameters. Therefore, the extract is said to boost the immune system of the treated animals and could prevent other opportunistic diseases associated with decreased immunity. Following these observations, it can therefore be said that Jatropha tanjorensis leaves could be useful and important in the treatment and management of anaemia.

Keywords: Jatropha tanjorensis, Haematological indices, White blood               cells, Red blood cells, Platelets.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages

Title Page    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Certification                   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Acknowledgements        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Abstract      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vi

Table of Contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

List of Tables       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xii

List of Figures      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        xiii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background Information         -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2     Statement of the Problem        -        -        -        -        -        -        5

1.3     Aims and Objective of the study       -        -        -        -        6

1.4     Specific Objectives         -        -        -        -        -        -        6

1.5     Significance of the Study         -        -        -        -        -        -        7

1.6     Scope of the Work         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1     Taxonomy and Nomenclature           -        -        -        -        -        8

2.2     Description of Jatropha tanjorensis  -        -        -        -        9

2.3     Distribution of Jatropha tanjorensis -        -        -        -        11

2.4     Medicinal Properties of Jatropha tanjorensis                 -        -        11

2.5     Phytochemistry of Jatropha tanjorensis     -        -        -        12

2.5.1  Actions of Polyphenols -        -        -        -        -        -        12

2.5.2  Pharmacological Uses of Jatropha tanjorensis     -        -        13

2.5.3  Flavonoid   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        16

2.5.3.1 Health Benefits of Flavonoids        -        -        -        -        -        18

2.5.3.2         Antioxidant activity- -        -        -        -        -        -        18

2.5.3.3 Mechanism of antioxidant    -        -        -        -        -        20

2.5.3.4 Anticancer Properties of Flavonoids        -        -        -        -        20

2.5.3.5Antibacterial Activity   -        -        -        -        -        -        21

2.5.3.6 Anti-inflammatory Activity  -        -        -        -        -        21

2.5.6  Alkaloids    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        22

2.5.7  Glycosides  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        24

2.5.7.1Medicinal Importance of Glycosides         -        -        -        -        25

2.5.8  Terpenoids -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        26

2.6     Haematological Indices  -        -        -        -        -        -        27

 [2.6.1 Red Blood Cells   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        28

2.6.2Clinical Significance of Red Blood Cells      -        -        -        29

2.6.3 Functions of Red Blood Cells  -        -        -        -        -        30

2.6.4  White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)        -        -        -        -        31

2.6.5Clinical Significance of White Blood cells    -        -        -        32

2.6.6  Platelets (PLT) (or Thrombocytes)    -        -        -        -        32

2.6.7 Clinical Significance of Thrombocytes        -        -        -        -        34

2.6.8  Lymphocyte (LYM)       -        -        -        -        -        -        34

2.6.9  Haemoglobin        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        36

2.7     Activities of Jatropha tanjorensis against Tropical Diseases   38

2.8     Toxicity      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        43

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1     Materials and Reagents  -        -        -        -        -        -        47

3.2     Collection of Plant Samples    -        -        -        -        -        48

3.3     Preparation of Plant Sample   -        -        -        -        -        48

3.3.1  Experimental Animals   -        -        -        -        -        -        49

3.3.2  Experimental Design     -        -        -        -        -        -        49

3.3.3  Preparation of Sample Stock Solution       -        -        -        -        50

3.3.4  Administration     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        50

3.3.5  Animal Sacrifice   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        51

3.3.6  Haematological Analysis         -        -        -        -        -        -        51

3.4     Statistical Analysis        -        -        -        -        -        -        52

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1    Results       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        53

4.2     Discussion  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        56

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Conclusion -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        58

5.2     Recommendations                   -        -        -        -        -        -        58

References  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        60

Appendix   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        68

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:      Experimental Design     -        -        -        -        -        50

Table 2:      Effects of 80% ethanolic leaves extract of Jatropha

 tajorensis on haematological parameters of male

albino wistar rats -        -        -        -        -        -        55

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1:     Chemical structures of compounds isolated from

Jatropha tanjorensis       -        -        -        -        -        14

Figure 2:     Structure of Flavonoids           -        -        -        -        -        16

Figure 3:     Chemical Structure of Alkaloids       -        -        -        22

Figure 4:     Structure of Glycoside   -        -        -        -        -        24

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