Anthony Cemaluk C Egbuonu and Chinazum I Opara
Avocado pear (Persea americana) seed flour (ASF) and the ethanolic extract (ASE) were respectively assessed for some mineral contents and effect on the hematological function of normal and monosodium glutamate-intoxicated rats. The determined minerals content (%) was in the order potassium>phosphorus>so dium>calcium>magnesium>zinc>iron. Monosodium glutamate (MSG)-intoxicated rats had a significantly (p<0.05) reduced hematology counts (haemoglobin (HB), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) but unaltered packed cell volume (PCV) compared to control rats. Rats exposed to the ASE had a significant (p<0.05) reduction in HB, RBC and WBC but an increase (p<0.05) in PCV counts compared to the control rats. Exposing rats to intoxicating dose of MSG together with increasing concentration of ASE decreased (p<0.05) the HB, PCV and WBC counts of the rats in a dose dependent manner but increased (p<0.05) the RBC count of the rats in a non-dose-dependent fashion, and the observation was marked compared to that in the group exposed to either MSG or ASE alone. In conclusion, avocado pear seed usually discarded as a waste has appreciable concentration of the determined minerals, notably potassium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium. However, the ethanolic extract of avocado pear seed significantly reduced hematology counts of the rats and exacerbated the monosodium glutamate-induced effect in the rats’ hematology. Further studies are therefore warranted before the exploitation of the appreciable mineral contents of the avocado pear seed by animals.
