Toxicological and Histopathological Effects of Cheese Wood, <i>Alstonia boonei</i> De Wild Stem Bark Powder used as Cowpea Protectant against Cowpea Bruchid, <i>Callosobruchus maculatus</i> (Fab.) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] on Albino Rats.

Abstract

Toxicological and histopathological effects of Alstonia boonei stem bark powder on albino rats liver and kidney functions were investigated using standard methods. After two weeks of acclimatization, the rats were randomly divided into four (I-IV) groups of six animals each. Group I was fed with Basal Diet, group II-IV were for 30 days with Basal Diet containing 1%, 4% and 10% A. boonei stem bark powder, respectively. Blood was rapidly collected by direct heart puncture and the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, urea and creatinine contents were determined using commercially-available kits. The levels of these biochemical functions were also determined in the liver and kidney. The A. boonei stem bark powder at 10% concentration caused oxidative liver and kidney damages. Histopathological results of the liver shows that the group fed with 4% A. boonei stem bark powder had normal hepatocytes. The group fed with 10% A. boonei stem bark powder had necrosis. The results of the present study showed that the supplementation of 1% and 4% A. boonei stem bark powder to the diets of rats for 30 days did not change the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney as well as histopathological investigation which illustrated normal architecture of liver and kidney.