Electrolyte Concentrations in Apparently Healthy Individuals after Consumption of Aqueous Extract of Jatropha tanjorensis

Jatropha tanjorensis is a herbaceous plant used locally for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, and stomach ache in Nigeria. Longtime effect of Jatropha tanjorensis on electrolyte concentrations in the body is yet to be determined. This study was conducted to determine electrolyte concentrations in healthy individuals after consumption of aqueous extract of Jatropha tanjorensis. Seven (7) healthy individuals aged between 23-26 years, weighing 44-75 kg were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected before the commencement of the study as control samples while test samples were collected on the 7th and 14th day of consumption of 7.8 g/175 ml of Jatropha tanjorensis daily for 14 days. The electrolyte was estimated using an ion selective electrode. The result showed that sodium (p<0.05), potassium (p<0.05), chloride (p<0.05), bicarbonate (p<0.05) and Anion gap (p<0.05) were significantly lower after 7 days of consumption of aqueous extract of Jatropha tanjorensis when compared to results before consumption of the extract. However, after 14 days of consumption of Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous extract, sodium and bicarbonate were lower (p<0.05) when compared to the values before consumption. The results suggest that Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous extract predispose consumers to electrolyte imbalance and metabolic acidosis.