Abstract

Evaluation of some metabolic activities and immuno-stimulatory potential of the methanolic seed extract of Garcinia kola (Heckel) in female albino Wistar rats was carried out using standard methods. Animals in treated groups were administered 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively of the extract through the oral route for 21 days. The control group received normal saline (0.5 ml/100 g body weight) for the same period during which food and water intakes were monitored. At the end of the treatment period, complete and differential blood counts were evaluated for each group. Results show that the extract at the doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg caused significant increase in body weight of treated animals compared with those of control (p < 0.05). Similarly, there was significant increase in food and water intake as well as faecal and urine output in groups treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg (p < 0.05). Results of the complete blood count showed that the extract caused significant increase in total white blood cell count (WBC) (p < 0.05) but a non-significant increase in haemoglobin (p > 0.05). There was significant increase in lymphocytes in groups that received the extract at a dose of 125 mg/kg compared with control (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the methanolic seed extract of G. kola possesses immuno-stimulatory potential that may justify the ethno-medicinal claims of the efficacy of G. kola in treatment of some immune disorders.

Key words: Garcinia kola, haematology, methanol extract, food/water, ethno-medicinal immuno-stimulatory.