The Evaluation of the Effects of Orange Juice on the Microflora, Haematology and Selected Organs of Albino Rats

Abstract

Fresh oranges juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and contains powerful natural antioxidant, folate, dietary fibre and other bioactive components. The effects of fresh orange juice on the microflora, haematology and histopathology of selected organs of albino rats was evaluated using standard methods. Different volumes of the juice were fed to the rats daily for 8 weeks. Their weight was taken every other day and a comprehensive assessment of their hematology, gastrointestinal flora and histopathology of selected organs done. The juice did not cause any pathological degeneration of the tissue or organs assessed. It caused increased in Packed Cell Volume (PCV) of the rats with the highest increase observed in the rats given 1.0 ml of the juice daily. The PCV was 51.22 ± 1.24% for the group given 1.0 ml daily while the control group was 41.33 ± 0.67%. All the results for the PCV were significantly different at P ≤ 0.05. None of the rats gut was sterile with 7 bacteria identified. The bacteria load ranges from 1.3 × 102 cfu/ml to 1.9 × 104 cfu/ml. The group fed with 0.5 ml of the juice had the highest weight gain. The results obtained has proof the effect of fresh orange juice as a source of vitamin. The histopathological results of the selected organs showed that they are pathologically fine without any degeneration of tissues thereby providing evidence that fresh orange juice has prophylactic and therapeutic values. Conclusively, fresh orange juice has medicinal values, boost immunity, increase blood volume, and restore normal gastrointestinal microflora.