AbstractHaematological, lipid profile and organ/body weight ratio are some of the biochemical parameters used in assessing the toxicity of a food/drug. The study aimed at determining these parameters in albino rats fed the fruit pulp of Dialium guineense at 5% - 40 % inclusion levels. 36 rats of both sexes were grouped into 6 (A–F). A served as the control while B – F where maintained on Dialium guineense fruit pulp meal-based diet at 5% - 40% supplementation respectively for five weeks.

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... logical and lipid Profiles were determined using standard methods while Organ/body weight ratio was expressed in percentage. The study revealed no alteration in almost all the haematological parameters of the test groups when compared with the control except for lymphocytes in which a significant increase (p < 0.05) (50.72 ± 1.73%) was observed at 40% supplementation while for neutrophils, significant increase and decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in the group fed on 30%; 40% diet (increase)(47.68 ± 2.13%, 48.11 ± 2.20%) and 5% diet (decrease) (41.68 ± 0.99%) respectively. For the lipid profile, a significant increase was observed at all inclusion levels in the total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein concentration while there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the low density lipoprotein concentration, triglyceride and atherogenic index at all inclusion levels of the fruit pulp. For the Organ body weight ratio, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in all the groups. The results suggest that the diet might not exhibit structural toxicity on selected organs but portray indications of minute functional toxicity which are still within the tolerable range.