Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3813

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of Mucuna pruriens on some haematological and biochemical parameters

G. K. A. Adepoju* and O. O. Odubena
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 January 2009
  •  Published: 28 February 2009

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens (MP) has been pharmacologically studied for various activities like aphrodisiac, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-epileptics activities. The present study aims at investigating the effects of shade-dried seeds of M. prurienson some haematological and bio-chemical parameters. Wistar strain albino rats of both sexes with weights ranging from 220 to 300 g were fed with shade-dried pul-verized seeds of M. pruriens in a 10-days experiment. The result shows that the Nigerian M. pruriens seeds improve the haematological and serum biochemical parameters determined in a dose-dependent manner. The study shows that shade-dried, pulverized seeds of M. pruriens lowers blood cholesterol, blood urea and serum creatinine. It also reduces bleeding time; increases platelet count and these were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, the effect on packed cell volume (PCV) was not statistically significant when compared with the control (p<0.05). Hence, shade-dried seeds of MP seeds are not poisonous when compared with the raw seeds.

 

Key words: Mucuna pruriens, arteriosclerosis, uremia, haemostatic ability, platelet count, creatinine, hyperchol-esterolaemia, hematological parameters.