Effect of Digera muricata (Kondhra) leaves on iron status of school going adolescent girls

Abstract

An experiment was planned to study the effect of Digera muricata (Kondhra) leaves powder through a value-added product that is Laddoo and Mathri in the increase of Hb level, serum ferritin and serum iron level in the 30-school going adolescent girls (16 -18years). Three homogenous groups of ten girls each were allotted the treatments keeping one group as control and other two groups with Laddoo 7.5gm/100gm Digera muricata (Kondhra) leaves powder Mathri supplementation. The response was measured after an experimental period of 90 days and the data was analysed statistically using paired t test (for before and after effect) for Hb content, serum ferritin and serum iron measured through venous blood at end of the experiment. The analysis revealed a significant increase between pre and post intervals (p< 0.01) for all the 3 groups. However, in the case of serum ferritin, a control did not show any significant increase (p< 0.05). The Karl’s Pearson coefficient of correlations was also calculated between Hb, serum ferritin 0.569 (p< 0.01) and serum iron 0.369 (p< 0.05) and serum iron and serum ferritin 0.501 (p< 0.01) and presented as a correlation matrix. Mean increase has also been presented.