Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Anemia is a pathological condition characterized by reduced oxygen bioavailability and/or changes in hematological parameters. This study investigated the anti-anemic activities of Carica papaya (CP) phytoconstituents in aluminium-chloride-induced anemic rats. METHOD: Twenty-seven rats were randomized into nine groups of three rats as follows; group 1 was the normal (non-induced) group, 2-9 were anemic rats administered 1 mL distilled water, standard drug (3 mg/kg body weight (bw) ferrous sulphate), 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg bw of crude methanolic extract of CP (CMECP) of the leaf and 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg bw of CMECP of the seed respectively in the first stage of the study. In the second stage, thirty-three rats were randomized into eleven groups of three rats as follows; group 1 was the normal group, 2-11 were anemic rats treated with 1 mL distilled water, standard drug, 75 mg/kg bw, 150 mg/kg of alkaloid fraction of CP seed, 75 mg/kg bw, 150 mg/kg bw of flavonoid fraction of CP seed, 75 mg/kg bw and 150 mg/kg of alkaloid fraction of CP leaf, 75 mg/kg bw and 150 mg/kg bw of flavonoid fraction of CP leaf respectively. RESULTS: Treatment of anemic rats with CP extracts and fractions of the seed and leaf significantly reversed the hematological parameters and body weight of anemic rats in a dose independent fashion. The CMECP leaf at 100 and 500 mg/kg gave PCV of 42.50±0.50 and 47.00±0.50, while the seed gave 49.50±0.50 and 42.50±0.50 respectively after 2 weeks of treatment. However, the alkaloid and flavonoid fraction of CP presented better anti-anemic properties probably due to constituents' synergism. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that CP possesses phytoconstituents which potentiates it as a safe anti-anemic drug candidate.