Although to many individuals, the consumption of sweet potatoes may not be too appealing because of its sweetness, notwith-standing, inclusion of its leaves as part of daily diet can help prevent anemia, a low blood level. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a creeping plant with perennial vines and adventitious roots, some of which produce swollen tubers. It is an ancient food from tropical America and the Pacific Island, which can be grown in well-drained loamy soil to provide a warm and moist environment to the root.
Although sweet potatoes are mainly cultivated from the tubers, its leaves which are rich in protein content help to fill the nutritional gap in many localities and serve as remedies for asthma, bug bites, burns, catarrh, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach distress and tumours. In addition, the leaves of sweet potatoes have been used in the treatment of anaemia and other related ailments.
Anaemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells. This makes it difficult for the blood to carry oxygen, causing unusual tiredness and other symptoms. Essentially, the number of red blood cells can drop if there is a reduction in the number of red blood cells produced or an increase in the loss of red blood cells.
Scientists in their assessment of sweet potatoes as a food supplement and medicinal additives found out that it contains chemical substances that can boost blood production.
Studying the effects of sweet potato leaf extract on some blood parameters in rabbits were Osime E.O. and Ediale G.E from the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Benin Teaching Hospital in collaboration with Omoti C.E., and Famodu A.A from the Department of Haematology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
In the 2007 study documented by the Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research, the rabbits were assigned into two groups of four, some serving as ‘control’. The extract was administered to the rabbit orally by withdrawingit into a syringe and inject it into the mouths of the tested animals. 1ml of the extract was administered daily for the first 2 weeks, while 3 mls of the extract was administered daily for the next 2 weeks. Lastly 5 mls of the extract was administered for the last 2 weeks. The control rabbits were given tap water instead of the sweet potato leaf extract.
Blood samples were collected at the end of every week and analysed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count and white cell differential count.
The researchers found that there was a significant increase in PCV, WBC and platelet count respectively, while the differential white cell count remained the same.
They explained that the significant increase in blood production, after feeding the animals with the sweet potato leaves’ extract may have direct effect on blood forming organs such as the liver and bone marrow inside the body.
From the study, they indicated that sweet potato leaves can stimulate haemopoietic organ for the red cell production in a comparable way to fluted pumpkin or Ugu leaf extract that had previously been said to stimulate the bone marrow to produce blood cells and the maintenance of body resistance to infection.
In addition, local farmers claim that goat weeds (Ageratum conyzoides) contain substantial amount of iron apart from its usefulness in stopping bleeding from a fresh wound.
An investigation of this claim by researchers substantiated the blood building potential of the alcohol extract of goat weeds and that it could possibly remedy anaemia.
Ageratum conyzoides is an annual herbaceous plant with long history of traditional medicinal and agricultural uses in several countries of the world, although its applications vary.
According to Burkill, H.M in the book, Useful Plants of West tropical Africa, Agera-tum conyzoides is referred to as èbéghó-Ìdòré in Edo; ágádî-ísí-awa or oso angweri ngwa in Igbo; and ákòò yúnyún or imi esu in Yoruba. The plant is added to soup in Nigeria and browsed on by animals like goats and guinea pigs.
A strong concoction of the leaves is considered in Nigeria to be a good tonic. The leaves are taken in Benin with certain foodstuffs as an aid to conception.
Its preparations are commonly applied to craw-craw and to itch.
The leaves are applied to bruises, cuts and sores as well as to stop bleeding from wounds and haemorrhoids in Ivory Coast. Powdered leaves are applied to the forehead for headache in The Gambia while the leaves baked in palm-oil are used for rheumatism in Gabon.
According to the 2007 report on the potential blood-building effects of the ethanol leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides which was published in Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences, ethanol leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides recorded significant increases in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell counts.”
This study carried out by Drs. S. O. Ita; O. E. Etim; E. E. Ben; and O. F. Ekpo from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, to justify the usage of goat weeds was tried out on 27 albino rats.
The 27 rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group had six rats and served as control, the remaining three experimental groups had seven rats each. These later groups were given the extract of Ageratum conyzoides in concentrations of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively for 30days at a dose of 0.1ml/body weight, while the control group received sodium chloride. Samples of their blood were then analysed.
From their assessment, they reported that the use of goat weeds in preventing anaemia, a common complication of other diseases like pneumonia, fever and rheumatism, which tend to destroy blood cells, was also safe.
Its previous assessment found out that it contained essential elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron and zinc. In addition, non-essential elements like aluminum and barium were present in significant concentrations. Other elements like chromium, vanadium and scandium were present at trace levels.
While explaining why the ingestion of this extract may possibly be an acceptable blood booster in an anaemic condition, they declared that the extract probably stimulates the blood manufacturing parts of the body.
Although the mechanism by which the extract stimulates blood production is yet to be ascertained, they postulated that “it is possible that Ageratum conyzoides components stimulate the kidney directly to cause formation and secretion of erythropoietin to stimulate haematopoiesis.”
“It also could be due to the high iron content of the plant, and if this be the case, it will then lend credence to the earlier report that erythropoietic value of pumpkin leaf extract is the function of the high level of protein, iron and vitamins found in the plant.”
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Although sweet potatoes are mainly cultivated from the tubers, its leaves which are rich in protein content help to fill the nutritional gap in many localities and serve as remedies for asthma, bug bites, burns, catarrh, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach distress and tumours. In addition, the leaves of sweet potatoes have been used in the treatment of anaemia and other related ailments.
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| Sweet Potato leaves |
Scientists in their assessment of sweet potatoes as a food supplement and medicinal additives found out that it contains chemical substances that can boost blood production.
Studying the effects of sweet potato leaf extract on some blood parameters in rabbits were Osime E.O. and Ediale G.E from the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Benin Teaching Hospital in collaboration with Omoti C.E., and Famodu A.A from the Department of Haematology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
In the 2007 study documented by the Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research, the rabbits were assigned into two groups of four, some serving as ‘control’. The extract was administered to the rabbit orally by withdrawingit into a syringe and inject it into the mouths of the tested animals. 1ml of the extract was administered daily for the first 2 weeks, while 3 mls of the extract was administered daily for the next 2 weeks. Lastly 5 mls of the extract was administered for the last 2 weeks. The control rabbits were given tap water instead of the sweet potato leaf extract.
Blood samples were collected at the end of every week and analysed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count and white cell differential count.
The researchers found that there was a significant increase in PCV, WBC and platelet count respectively, while the differential white cell count remained the same.
They explained that the significant increase in blood production, after feeding the animals with the sweet potato leaves’ extract may have direct effect on blood forming organs such as the liver and bone marrow inside the body.
From the study, they indicated that sweet potato leaves can stimulate haemopoietic organ for the red cell production in a comparable way to fluted pumpkin or Ugu leaf extract that had previously been said to stimulate the bone marrow to produce blood cells and the maintenance of body resistance to infection.
In addition, local farmers claim that goat weeds (Ageratum conyzoides) contain substantial amount of iron apart from its usefulness in stopping bleeding from a fresh wound.
An investigation of this claim by researchers substantiated the blood building potential of the alcohol extract of goat weeds and that it could possibly remedy anaemia.
Ageratum conyzoides is an annual herbaceous plant with long history of traditional medicinal and agricultural uses in several countries of the world, although its applications vary.
According to Burkill, H.M in the book, Useful Plants of West tropical Africa, Agera-tum conyzoides is referred to as èbéghó-Ìdòré in Edo; ágádî-ísí-awa or oso angweri ngwa in Igbo; and ákòò yúnyún or imi esu in Yoruba. The plant is added to soup in Nigeria and browsed on by animals like goats and guinea pigs.
A strong concoction of the leaves is considered in Nigeria to be a good tonic. The leaves are taken in Benin with certain foodstuffs as an aid to conception.
Its preparations are commonly applied to craw-craw and to itch.
The leaves are applied to bruises, cuts and sores as well as to stop bleeding from wounds and haemorrhoids in Ivory Coast. Powdered leaves are applied to the forehead for headache in The Gambia while the leaves baked in palm-oil are used for rheumatism in Gabon.
According to the 2007 report on the potential blood-building effects of the ethanol leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides which was published in Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences, ethanol leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides recorded significant increases in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell counts.”
This study carried out by Drs. S. O. Ita; O. E. Etim; E. E. Ben; and O. F. Ekpo from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, to justify the usage of goat weeds was tried out on 27 albino rats.
The 27 rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group had six rats and served as control, the remaining three experimental groups had seven rats each. These later groups were given the extract of Ageratum conyzoides in concentrations of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively for 30days at a dose of 0.1ml/body weight, while the control group received sodium chloride. Samples of their blood were then analysed.
From their assessment, they reported that the use of goat weeds in preventing anaemia, a common complication of other diseases like pneumonia, fever and rheumatism, which tend to destroy blood cells, was also safe.
Its previous assessment found out that it contained essential elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron and zinc. In addition, non-essential elements like aluminum and barium were present in significant concentrations. Other elements like chromium, vanadium and scandium were present at trace levels.
While explaining why the ingestion of this extract may possibly be an acceptable blood booster in an anaemic condition, they declared that the extract probably stimulates the blood manufacturing parts of the body.
Although the mechanism by which the extract stimulates blood production is yet to be ascertained, they postulated that “it is possible that Ageratum conyzoides components stimulate the kidney directly to cause formation and secretion of erythropoietin to stimulate haematopoiesis.”
“It also could be due to the high iron content of the plant, and if this be the case, it will then lend credence to the earlier report that erythropoietic value of pumpkin leaf extract is the function of the high level of protein, iron and vitamins found in the plant.”
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I've been taking the "runners" & throwing them away. I read that sweet potato leaves were poison.
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