Some biological activities of Garcinia kola in growing rats

The biological activities of water extract from Garcinia kola (G. kola) were investigated in growing Wistar rats. Three doses of G. kola extract (0, 10, 20 mg G. kola/100g body mass of rat) were administered daily by gavage to the respective groups of 15 rats for a period of 70 days. The animals were offered standard rat diet and water ad libitum. The plant extract had a depressive effect (P<0.01) on appetite and water intake with resultant poor (P<0.05) feed utilization efficiency and mass gain of rats in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were elevated (P<0.05) but histological examinations of liver, heart and lungs of experimental rats revealed no alterations. Nevertheless, a significant (P<0.05) increase in leucocyte counts was adduced for possible mild degenerative changes in these organs. The extract enhanced sexual interest (libido) of the male rats but did not necessarily improve their fertility rate.