EFFECT OF PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF TRIGONELLA FAENUMGRAECUM SEEDS ON THE BODY WEIGHT AND SOME BLOOD CONSTITUENS OF FEMALE ALBINO RATS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University and the National Research Centre, Cairo.

Abstract

Fenugreek seeds are widely used as a bitter stomachic, tonic and nutritive food for man and animals as they are rich in carbohydrates and proteins. The effect of prolonged adminstration of the seeds was studied on the body weight, RBCs count, Hb, PCV and blood sugar of female albino rats, Two experiments were made, in the 1st a dose of 0.2 ml of 20% alcoholic extract of Fenugreek seeds was subcuta neously injected daily in the rats for 2 months.In the 2nd experiment, crushed Fenugreek seeds were mixed with the diet of 3 groups of rats in the order of 0.04, 4 and 6 gram/rat/day for 2 months. Results re vealed no characteristic changes in the estimated variables when Fenu greek was administered by injection execept blood sugar which was decreased. The groups of rats fed Fenugreek seeds showed an inc rease in body weight, HB value and blood sugar level particularly when a dose of 4 gram/rat/day was used.