Acute and Sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity Study of Methanolic Extract of Caesalpinia volkensii (Harms)

Abstract

Medicinal plant Caesalpinia volkensii is used to treat Malaria, conjunctivitis, retinoblastoma, and eyelid swelling as well as gonorrhoea and bilharzia. Animal toxicity information on this plant is limited. This medicinal plant was collected in Embu County in Kenya to evaluate its Acute and sub-chronic toxicity using Wistar rats. The rats were orally administered with different doses of the plants extracts. They were weighed on first day and after every 7 days during treatment with the extract. Signs of toxicity were also observed. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples taken for full hemogram, renal and liver function tests. Weight of internal organs was also recorded. Data was analysed using Minitab statistical software version 17. In acute toxicity studies, C. volkensii extracts did not result to death at extract dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. In sub-chronic toxicity studies, there was no significance difference in body weight and organ weight among the groups treated with the plant extract (p>0.05). Treatment with extract dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight resulted in significant increase in total bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (P˂0.05). In addition, 100 mg/kg body weight resulted in significant decrease in haemoglobin and haematocrit. Qualitative phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of various phytochemicals which have the ability to protect erythrocytes from oxidative damage as well as erythropoietin stimulatory activities. It was therefore concluded that methanolic leaf extract of C. volkensii is safe for acute oral administration. However, care should be exercised in sub-chronic exposure at 1000 mg/kg body weight and above to avoid liver injury.

Investigation of Wound Healing Potential of Azadirachta indica Seed Extract using Wistar Rats

“…On the whole, there were no significant changes in the body weight of the test and control rats. This is similar to the observation by Musila et al (2017) [21].…”

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies of Dichaetanthera africana (Hook. F.) Jacq. Fel. (Melastomataceae) stem bark ethanol extract

“…Medicinal plants (crude extract, pure compound or derivative) are an unlimited source for the discovery of new medicines. Most of the natural products used in traditional medicine have solid scientific evidence regarding their biological activities (Ochoa et al, 2014;Musila et al, 2017;Tang et al, 2017). However, little information or evidence is available on the possible toxicity of medicinal plants to the consumers (Tang et al, 2017).…”

“…However, little information or evidence is available on the possible toxicity of medicinal plants to the consumers (Tang et al, 2017). Regarding the discovery and development of drugs, the concerns of health authorities, the pharmaceutical industry and patients must be taken into consideration (Musila et al, 2017). The prompt access to safe and efficient medicines, as well as animal welfare, are of primary interest to the general public, patients, and consumers.…”

Toxicological, Bioassay-Guided Fractionation and Antibacterial Activity of Methanol Stem Extract of Terminalia microptera on Oral Bacteria Pathogens

“…54 One of the toxicological parameters used for the assessment of plant extracts safety is the Median Lethal Dose (LD50), which is the amount of a drug required to cause mortality in half of the test population. 4, 49,50 In this study, an acute toxicity study of methanol stem extract of T. microptera revealed that the extract is safe at an LD50 of 1386 mg/kg bodyweight with mortality of 3 animals at 1600 mg/kg body weight of the extract (Table 2). 4 and Etuk et al 57 reported LD50 of 5000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg bodyweight ethanol stem extract of T. microptera.…”