Abstract

Black pepper seeds (144 g) were pounded with mortar and pestle and the powdered was wrapped in thumble and suspended into a soxhlet extractor. An approprate volume of  methanol (500 mls), as solvent was added into the receiver flask to three quarter full. The soxlet extractor was heated with thermostatic hot plate (72°C) for 72 h. The extracted sample in the solvent was evaporated using electrical evaporator for 24 h. Oral administration of the aqueous extract at a dose of 4 g/kg to the albino-wistar rats, weighing between 120 and 180 g significantly increased their body weights. On the haematological values, the activity of Piper guineense increased the red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, pack cell volume (PCV) and MCHC values, Hb concentration, with a reduction in MCH, MCHC and mean corpuscular value (MCV).

Key words: Piper guineense, hematological values, bodyweight, albino-Wistar rats.