European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

This research determined the effects of Citrus sinensis and Lycopersicon esculentum Miller juices on the hematological parameters of Rattus albus. To achieve its objectives, the study utilized quantitative-experimental method. For this purpose, nine, two-weeks-old male albino rat weighing 100-150g were used. Rats were kept under room temperature in a 12-hour alternate light and dark cycle and provided with free access to water and foods. Rats were divided into three equal groups namely the control group and experimental groups administered with 2ml of orange and 2ml of tomato juice respectively for 6 days for three continuous weeks. Blood were collected through saphenous vein sampling technique starting at the end of acclimatization and every 7th day of the week. The obtained blood samples were used for determination of hematocrit, red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) and differential count including neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocytes, eosinophil and basophil and indices such as the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The results revealed that administration of orange juice obtained a significant differences (p-value <0.05) in the neutrophil and lymphocytes compared to their baseline results. After two weeks of administration, only the neutrophil count showed a significant difference, whereas WBC count, hematocrit concentration, eosinophil, and lymphocytes obtained a significant difference throughout three weeks’ time. Furthermore, significant differences (p-value <0.05) were observed on the values of monocyte after one week and two weeks of the administration of tomato extracts, whereas WBC count, monocyte, lymphocytes and eosinophil count after three weeks of administration. Therefore, it is then concluded that bioactive substances present in orange and tomato extract like lycopene and vitamin C induces the proliferation of white blood cells in the blood circulation. Hence, it was proven that orange and tomato have a protective effect which may serve as an alternative treatment options in patients with leukopenia.