Abstract

The mesocarp of fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca was analyzed for its biochemical constituents with estimation of different

fractions of carbohydrates present in the fruit mesocarp. The fruits mesocarp was then administered orally to rats to

assess blood parameters in CCl4 liver damaged rats. White albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) assigned to four (4) groups

containing fifteen (15) rats each were used to assess the effect of the aqueous extract of the mesocarp of the fruit

Balanites aegyptiaca on the CCl4 induced rats. Group 1 are the normal control (Nc) and group 2 are the diseased control

(Dc), while groups 3 and 4 are the test groups of animals administered orally with 0.08mg of raw (Tr) extract and 0.19mg

of concentrated (Tc) extracts per kg body weight respectively on daily basis. The result of the proximate composition

revealed that the fruit mesocarp has 36.42% carbohydrates with 50.89% of it as reducing sugar. Compared to the

controls, blood cells of the test rats revealed that there is significant increase (p<0.05) in the level of PCV, RBC,

haemoglobin, MCH, MCHC and neutrophils count of the Balanites aegyptiaca treated rats. This indicates that in a

diseased state, this fruits contains nutrients which can assist to restore and maintain biological functions of the body, if

regularly consumed.