Biochemical, hematological, and hormonal profile of rats orally administered methanol stem bark extract of Napoleona vogelii Hook and Planch (Lecythidaceae)

Abstract

Napoleona vogelii is used in traditional medicine for the management of stomach aches, ulcer, and cancers. This study was conducted to investigate the subchronic toxicological effect of methanol stem bark extract of N. vogelii on biochemical, hematological, and hormonal profile of male and female rats. Forty rats of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups of 10 rats each and were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract p.o. for 90 d. Ten milliliter per kilogram of distilled water p.o. was administered to control rats. On hematological assessment, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly (p < 0.01) increased at 400 mg/kg compared to control. Biochemical assessment showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared to control. Hormonal assessment of male rats revealed a significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced level of testosterone at all treatment doses compared to control while estradiol was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 100 mg/kg, but significantly (p < 0.0001) increased at 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively compared to control in female rats. Findings from this study demonstrate that N. vogelli is relatively safe on oral acute exposure but may possess the potential to cause hepatic dysfunction and infertility in male rats by perturbations of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis while conversely enhancing fertility in female rats on subchronic administration.

Bioactivity and modulatory functions of Napoleona vogelii on oxidative stress-induced micronuclei and apoptotic biomarkers in mice

“…The oral LD 50 from a previous study [39] was greater than 4000 mg/kg. However, in this study, there was no mortality recorded on administration of methanol stem bark extract of N. vogelii up to 5000 mg/kg p.o .…”

“…From a previous study [39], the methanol stem bark extract of N. vogelii was found to contain flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, phlobatanin and cardiac glycoside. Quantitatively, the extract consists of 87.88 ± 0.32 mg flavonoid gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g extract, 24.88 ± 0.47 mg phenol GAE/100 g extract, 35.55 ± 0.19 mg saponin GAE/100 g extract and 13.01 ± 0.84 mg tannin GAE/100 g extract.…”

“…Olowokudejo in the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Nigeria where a voucher specimen (LUH 6524) was deposited in the herbarium. It was then prepared, extracted and reconstituted as described by Ikumawoyi et al [39].…”

“…Male albino mice ( Mus musculus ) of about 7–8 weeks weighing between 17–30 g used were obtained and maintained as described in another study [39]. The animals were acclimatized for two weeks before commencement of the study and the procedures employed were in conformity with The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No 8023, revised 1978) for studies involving experimental animals.…”

“…A previous study by Ikumawoyi et al [39] had reported that the LD 50 oral of the extract is greater than 4000 mg/kg. The Miller and Tainter method [41] was employed in this study.…”