European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ALCOHOLIC BITTERS ON THE HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Johnson J. T., kafor E. O. and Ifeakor O. D

ABSTRACT

Due to easy accessibility of alcohol, people readily get intoxicated which results in various devastating health consequences. This study evaluated the effects of various alcoholic bitters on the haematological parameters of albino wistar rats. Forty two (42) male albino rats of wistar strain were used for this study and grouped into 7 groups of 6 animals. Group 1 served as normal control and were given distilled water. Group 2 were treated with Action bitters (AB), group 3 were treated with Alomo bitters (ALB), group 4 were treated with Origin bitters (OB), group 5 were treated with 1960 bitters, group 6 which was the alcoholic control were treated with Local gin (LG) and group 7 were treated with Local gin + B complex. The alcoholic bitters were administered to the rats at a dosage of 2.68ml/kg body weight which is equivalent to 75kg body weight of man consuming a bottle of these drinks (75cl) at a time per day. The administration was done twice daily for a period of thirty (30) days using orogastric tube. Twelve hours after the last administration, the rats were sacrificed and blood was obtained via cardiac puncture into a well labeled EDTA bottle. Results of haematological indices estimation indicated a significant (p<0.05) decrease in RBC count of groups II (3.75±0.26), IV (3.89±0.35), V (3.71±0.23), VI (1.96±0.29) and VII (3.74±0.31) when compared with the normal control (4.82±0.21) while group III (4.03±0.34) showed no significant (p>0.05) changes compared with normal control (4.82±0.21). However, Hb levels of animals in groups II (13.46±0.69), III (13.85±0.47), IV (13.44±0.99), V (13.44±0.93) and VII (13.48±0.81) shows no significant (p>0.05) changes compared with those of normal control (14.85±0.94) while animals in group VI (8.49±0.61) recorded a significant (p<0.05) decreased compared with the normal control (14.85±0.94) and other treated groups. The PCV levels of animals in group II (24.12±1.14), III (24.53±1.02), IV (25.04±1.37), V (24.78±1.28) and VII (24.56±1.82) recorded no significant (p>0.05) changes compared with the control (25.18±5.09). Moreover, the platelet count of animals in group II (303.47±31.97), III (278.66±18), IV (226.05±15.16), V (255.81±20.01), VI (151.19±12.15) and VII (242.89±18.47) shows a significant (p<0.05) decrease when compared with the normal control (314.09±9.68). However, the WBC count of all the animals in group II (3.22±0.30), III (3.21±0.25), IV (3.22±0.21), V (3.50±0.20), VI (1.52±0.17) and VII (3.09±0.15) were all significantly (p<0.05) lower when compared to the normal control (4.62±0.15). The results also showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in the differential count of all the treated groups compared to the normal control. The findings of this studies suggest that chronic ingestion/consumption of these alcoholic bitters may induce haematoxicity. Hence, there is need for public enlightenment on the dangers of these bitters.

Keywords: Alcoholic bitters; Haematology; Albino rats; Haemolysis.