Acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract leaves of Ficus glumosa Del. (Moraceae) in rodents

Abstract

Background:Ficus glumosa Del (Moraceae), a plant used in traditional medicine in Cameroon, Senegal, and East Africa for the treatment of edema, hemorrhoid, cardiovascular diseases especially hypertension.Aim:The present study evaluated the potential toxicity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of F.glumosa in acute and sub-chronic administration in rodents.Methods:Acute toxicity was evaluated on 3 months old mice of both sexes and weighing 20-30 g. A single dose (2-12 g/kg) of F. glumosa was administered orally to mice. Animal behavior, adverse effects, and mortality were determined for 14 days. In sub-chronic toxicity studied in both sexes of 9 weeks old rats and weighing 100-120 g at the start of the experiment, animals were treated orally with a daily dose of 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of the leaves of F. glumosa for 6 weeks. The body weight change, food, and water consumption, were determined throughout the experimental period, while the relative organ weights, the hematological and biochemical parameters of blood and urine, as well as the histology of tissues kidney and liver, were recorded at the end of the experiment.Results:For acute treatment, no dose used induced critical behavioral changes or death. In sub-chronic treatment, daily oral administration of F. glumosa at the dose of 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in body weight relative to food and water consumption in the last week of treatment. The relative organ weights were not affected by treatment. No hematological changes were observed except the significant increase in platelets. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, increased while the total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, conjugated bilirubin, and total bilirubin significantly decreased. Index of renal function showed a decrease of creatinine, urea, uric acid and Na+, Cl− and Ca2+, and inorganic phosphate. The histology of liver and kidney showed no significant alteration of tissue.Conclusion:These observations support the traditional use of F. glumosa in the treatment of hypertension. These results have shown that F. glumosa has a safety margin for therapeutic use.

Effect of Ficus glumosa Delile Leaves on some Biochemical and Haematological Indices of Rats Fed with Kerosene Contaminated Feed

“…32 Additionally, Ficus glumosa-treated groups (especially the high doses) showed marked reduction in their levels of creatinine and urea. This corroborates the claim by Ntchapdaet al 40 that Ficus glumosa aids in the lowering of urea and creatinine concentration in serum. Besides, another study suggested that a possible adaptation over time maybe the reason why the kidneys in the treated groups relative to the control group appeared to be eliminating creatinine from the blood more efficiently as shown by their lower serum creatinine levels.…”

Sub-chronic toxicity evaluation of top three commercial herbal antimalarial preparations in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana

“…There is also a growing concern regarding contamination and adulteration of over-the-counter HMPs [17]. Although, toxicity profile of some medicinal plants or their extracts have been documented in Ghana, data on pre-market and post-market safety and toxicity are practically unavailable for most antimalarial and other MHPs on the Ghanaian market [18]. Regular safety surveillance of these commercial products is also lacking thereby creating data gap and raising public health concerns [19].…”

Nematocidal Activity on Onchocerca ochengi, Toxicity and Phytochemical Screening of Vernonia perrottetii Sch. Bip. Ex Walp (Asteraceae) Extracts

“…Phytochemical studies showed that the VLeth extract contains various secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids. These bioactive constituents present in the extract may account for the observed pharmacological effects, as suggested by Ntchapda et al [41] when studying the subacute toxicity of leaves of Ficus glumosa in rodents. Several studies have reported that polyphenols and flavonoids compounds bring their hypoglycemic effect through different mechanisms, including inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, enhancement of peripheral glucose uptake, and stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells [42].…”