ANTIBACTERIAL AND ERYTHROCYTIC GENERATION POTENTIAL OF CNIDOSCOLUS ACONITIFOLIUS IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the antibacterial effects using agar diffusion technique and erythrocytic generation potential of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in albino rats. The phytochemical screening of C. aconitifolius revealed the presence of six phytochemicals in methanolic and aqueous crude extracts namely; alkaloid, phenol, flavonoid, tannin, steroid and saponins. Methanol and aqueous crude extracts of C. aconitifolius showed low activity (1.5-12 mm) against Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. The minimum bacteriocidal concentration (mBc) of both extracts was found to be 100 mg/ml while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 200 mg/ml. However, 30 g of C. aconitifolius supplemented diet had a significant (p<0.05) effect on hematological parameters (such as packed cell volume, white blood cell count and monocytes) examined. Similarly a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight was recorded for group of rats fed with C. aconitifolius supplemented diet.