ELECTROLYTE CONCENTRATION IN ALBINO RATS FED WITH PIMENTA DIOICA BERRIES
*Kalio Ibiene Sarah, Joshua Marcella Tari and Stephen Fortune Ibinabo
ABSTRACT
Background: pimenta dioica is used in the eastern region of Nigeria for culinary purposes. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation by the natives of the Niger Delta. Long term effect of pimenta dioica on electrolyte level in Niger Delta region of Nigeria is yet to be determined. This study was conducted, to determine electrolyte concentration in albino rats fed with pimenta dioica berries. Materials and Methods: Twenty albino rats Weighing between 150-180g were grouped into four groups of five rats labeled control, A,B and C. Control group were fed only commercial pellets. Group A received 10g of pimenta dioica berries, Group B received 20g pimenta dioica berries while group C received 30g of pimenta dioica berries daily for 21days. The animals were slaughtered after 7, 14 and 21days and blood samples collected into well labelled heparinized bottle for electrolyte estimation. Electrolyte was estimated using Ion Selective Electrode. Result: The result for electrolyte showed that there was no significant elevation in test parameters; sodium (P > 0.05), potassium (P > 0.05), chloride (P > 0.05), bicarbonate (P > 0.05) and anion gap (P > 0.05) when compared with control. Conclusion: The results in this study suggest that pimenta dioica berries may not predispose consumers to electrolyte imbalance and metabolic acidiosis. However caution should be taken in consumption of pimenta dioica berries in high concentration.
Keywords: Pimenta dioica, Electrolyte, Anion gap, Ikum spice.
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