Abstract
Background:
The calabash (Crescentia cujete L.) is a tropical fruit that offers numerous health benefits. Its fermented form (FC) has been found to affect the neurological system positively. However, its impact on haematology, clinical chemistry, and CD4+ and CD8+ levels has yet to be documented.
Aim:
Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of FC on haematology, clinical chemistry, and the levels of CD4+ and CD8+ in the circulatory system using rat models.
Methods:
This study used twenty male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided into group 1 (0 mg/kg BW FC), group 2 (50 mg/kg BW FC), group 3 (500 mg/kg BW FC), and group 4 (2,000 mg/kg BW FC). The treatment was administered using a gastric probe once daily for 14 days. On day 15, the blood samples were collected and tested against haematology, clinical chemistry, quality of the erythrocytes, and CD4+/CD8+. The data was then analysed using SPSS with p-value at 0.05.
Results:
The conducted study demonstrated that the utilisation of FC at varying doses did not have a significant impact on the haematological profile changes (p≥0.05), except for total lymphocytes and a decrease in the neutrophils/lymphocytes (N/L) ratio (p≤0.05). Furthermore, FC did not influence the changes in clinical chemistry, circulatory protein, and electrolyte levels in rat models compared to the control (p≥0.05). The utilisation of FC decreased the percentage of haemolysis and elevated the ATP concentration (p≤0.05). Additionally, the use of FC led to a significant increase in CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ (p≤0.05), while no significant effect was observed regarding CD8+ (p≥0.05).
Conclusion:
The study highlighted FC’s beneficial effects on the haemorheology and immune system, specifically on the decrease in the percentage of haemolysis, elevated ATP concentration, number of lymphocytes, ratio N/L, CD4+, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, without causing significant changes to the haematological and clinical chemistry profiles in rat models.

Key words: CD4+, CD8+, Clinical chemistry, Fermented Crescentia cujete (L), Haematology