Matthew Chibunna Igwe and Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu
The study was done to determine the effect of Tetrapleura tetraptera methanol extract fruit on osmotic fragility of red cells, thrombocytes aggregation and phospholipase A2 activity. The Tetrapleura tetraptera mature fruits were obtained from Eke market, Eha-Amufu. A total of 20 albino rats of different gender measuring 85-130 g were obtained from the Animal Production Unit of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The TTE significantly (p<0.05) inhibited hypotonicity causing haemolysis of erythrocytes in a concentration dependent manner. TTE inhibited haemolysis in a similar manner as Indomethacin. Take for instance, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/ml of TTE inhibited haemolysis as; 17.3, 38.46, 52.0, and 77.0% respectively. While 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/ml of Indomethacin inhibited hypotonicity induced haemolysis as; 25.0, 57.7, 67.31 and 73.07% respectively. The highest platelet aggregatory function was reached at the 8th minutes. The inhibition of thrombocytes by the TTE correlates with that of indomethacin. TTE significantly (p<0.05) inhibited phospholipase A2 activity in a concentration related manner comparable to that of Prednisolone. Results on membrane stabilization indicated that TTE inhibited haemolysis showed in low osmotic medium. This implies that TTE possess properties which reduce mainly methaemoglobin than deoxyhaemoglobin. The stabilization of red blood cell membrane may be linked to high content of phenols in the methanolic extract. This also suggests that the TTE could be used in the management of Spherocytosis and thalassaemia, iron deficiency anaemia.
