Effect of cassava based diet on some heamatological parameters in albino rats fed petroleum contaminated diet

The study was carried out to ascertain the effect of a cassava based diet (gari) on crude oil heamato-toxicity in albino rats by feeding diet contaminated with various concentrations of crude oil mixed with 20% gari to determine the protective effect of gari. The haematological parameters haemoglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell count (WBC)(Total and differential) were monitored in the animals. Gari feeding at 20% caused insignificant dose dependent decrease in Hb and PCV but significant dose dependent white blood cell count in gari fed albino rats compared with Petroleum fed albino rats (P<0.05). Dose dependent decrease in Hb, PCV and white blood cell count was also observed in petroleum fed rats compared with their controls (P<0.05). The study showed that ingestion of petroleum contaminated diet caused decreased haemoglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell count, an indicator of possible blood damage but supplementation of the diet with 20% gari decreased the haemoglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell count observed in petroleum fed albino rats. This study showed that feeding on gari diet did not reverse the damage caused by crude petroleum as evidenced by insignificant differences in Hb and PCV concentrations possibly as result of cyanide present in the gari. Industrial relevance Cassava is a staple food in human diets in over 80 countries (Gomez, et al 1988). Gari a starchy food prepared from cassava (Manihot utilisima) tubers is one of the most popular staple foods of the people of the rain forest belt of West Africa. Gari contains mainly starch-20% amylase and 70% amylopectin having lost the soluble carbohydrates. Crude petroleum is capable of eliciting haemolytic toxicity of the blood cells in conditions of long- exposure causing decrease haemoglobin, white cell count and PCV levels. The study was carried out to see the effect of gari, a staple food on haemolytic toxicity caused by crude petroleum. Keywords: Cassava; Gari; Petroleum; haemato-toxicity