Effects on hematological and biochemical parameters in albino mice fed Ipomoea batatas leaf aqueous extract

Abstract

The leaf aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas was investigated for hematological and biochemical effects in mice. The acute toxicity test recorded no death, even at the highest dose of 1,600 mg/kg. The animals were divided into two groups. The first group was given 800 mg of the extract for 28 days while the second group that served as the control received water for the same period. No significant changes in hematological parameters such as packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, and the red blood cell count. The erythrocytic indices such as mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration did not change significantly. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the level of WBC in the group that received the extract. The activities of the serum enzymes, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase also did not change significantly. The pentobarbitone sleeping time showed significant (p < 0.001) increase in the mean sleeping time when the group that received the extract was compared with the control.