An assessment of levels of inflammatory markers in Wistar rats fed with Sampea 20-T Cowpea Cultivars

This study investigates the impact of SAMPEA 20-T cowpea cultivar on inflammatory markers in Wistar rats. Wistar rats weighing 200–250g were assigned into four groups: a control group fed a normal diet and water, and three treatment groups fed 25%, 50%, and 100% SAMPEA 20T cowpea diets, respectively, for 14 days. Inflammatory markers, colon; histopathology C-reactive protein (CRP) and packed cell volume (PCV), were assessed to determine the effects of SAMPEA 20-T consumption. The is no significant differences in CRP levels across treatment groups, with mean CRP values of 1.23 mg/L in the 25% group to 1.42 mg/L in the 100% group, compared to 1.10 mg/L in the control group (p value 0.00). Similarly, PCV levels exhibited a decreasing trend from 45.00% in the control group to 36.50% in the 100% treatment group. Histopathological examination also, revealed no signs of inflammation or tissue damage in the colons of treated rats, with intact mucosal architecture and normal glandular arrangement across all groups. The findings suggest that SAMPEA 20-T consumption do not induce significant inflammatory responses and histopathological changes in Wistar rats. The study highlights the potential safety of SAMPEA 20-T as a dietary component and its non-inflammatory properties, contributing to its potential role in health management and nutrition.