Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is permitted as a safe food additive. However, there are concerns regarding its high intake. Using medicinal plants for treatment is an ancient practice, which still holds today. Uvaria chamae is one plant whose therapeutic activities are being investigated. MSG and phytochemicals have been reported to alter haematological parameters. 25 Sprague dawley rats, 16-18 weeks old (80g –120g) were grouped as follows; CONTROL, MSG, MSG+U.chamae(low dose), MSG+U.chamae(middle dose) and MSG+U.chamae(high dose). Animals in the experimental groups were orally administered MSG daily at 150mg/kg body weight for 30 days after which, the animals in the three MSG+U.chamae groups were treated with respective doses (LOW dose; 100mg/kg body weight; MIDDLE dose; 200mg/kg body weight, HIGH dose; 300mg/kg body weight) of the Uvaria chamae extract. Haematological parameters were evaluated; the white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (HB), haematocrit (HCT) and neutrophil (NEU) levels were significantly lowered while the mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and lymphocyte (LYM) levels were significantly raised in the MSG-administered rats when compared with the CONTROL (P < 0.05). The three doses of the extract significantly raised the RBC, HB and HCT levels which were lowered by the MSG; the extract also significantly lowered the MCV, MCH levels raised by the MSG. However, the extract had no significant (P < 0.05) effect on the NEU and LYM levels. Monosodium glutamate has detrimental effect on haematological parameters but Uvaria chamae ethanolic extract is a potent remedy against MSG-induced toxicity.
