Haematopoetic effect of methanol seed extract of Citrus paradisi Macfad (grape fruit) in Wistar rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the blood-forming effects of (100% methanol seed extract) of Citrus paradisi Macfad in adult Wistar rats for 30 days as a way of evaluating its traditional use in the treatment of blood deficiencies. Acute oral toxicity study was also conducted using limit dose test of the Up and Down Procedure statistical program (AOT425PgmStat, Version 1.0) at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight/oral route. Results showed significant (p<0.05) progressive and dose dependent elevations in total leucocyte count (TLC), lymphocyte differentials (Lymph.), red blood count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell count (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and platelet count (PL). Reversed effect was recorded for the neutrophil (Neutro.) and monocyte (Mono.) differentials which were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the treated rats. Acute oral toxicity showed the extract to be relatively safe at 2000 mg/kg on acute exposure. Thus, the overall results lend support to its folkloric use.