Influence of Orally Administered Prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera) Extract Growth Performance, Haemato-Biochemistry and Reno-Hepatic Histology of Wistar Rats.

Abstract

Tetrapleura tetraptera, popularly known as prekese in Ghana, is a medicinal plant widely recognized in traditional African medicine for its therapeutic properties. Various parts of the plant, particularly the fruits, bark, and seeds, are employed in ethnopharmacological practices to manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and inflammation. This study sought to investigate the effects of different doses of ethanolic T. tetraptera extract on feed intake, body weight, haematology, serum biochemistry and histology of liver and kidney of male Wistar rats. A total of 24 male Wistar rats, aged 8-10 weeks were randomly allotted into 4 treatment groups, with 6 replications per group using a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 (control) was administered with distilled water throughout the experimental period. Treatment 2 was administered 100 mg/kg body weight of T. tetraptera extract. Treatment 3 was administered 300 mg/kg body weight of T. tetraptera extract and Treatment 4 received 700 mg/kg body weight of T. tetraptera extract. All treatments were administered by oral gavage daily for 28 days. Treatment 4 recorded low feed intake on day 3 and day 4. There was no significant difference in body weight among treatment groups (p > 0.05). Treatment 3 and Treatment 4 recorded high Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin count compared to the control. Treatment 4 recorded increased Triglyceride and Very Low-Density Lipoprotein levels. There was no significant difference on kidney function among the treatment groups. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 recorded increased Aspartate aminotransferase as compared to the control. No adverse effects were recorded on the liver and kidney tissues. The research findings suggest that T. tetraptera has dose dependent effect on feed intake, haematology, lipid profile and liver function of male Wistar rats.