Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous stem bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae) in rodents

Abstract

Bridelia ferruginea is a woody shrub that grows in the Savannah or rain forests of Africa and has traditionally been used to treat diabetes, arthritis and boils. Despite all these uses, extensive toxicological evaluation has not been carried out. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the sub-chronic toxicological effects of the stem bark aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea in rats. The lethal dose (LD50) was determined using probit analysis and graded doses of the extract (250–4000 mg/kg) were administered to the animals via oral and intraperitoneal routes and observed for mortality, behavioral changes and signs of toxicity. Sub-chronic toxicity study was carried out at doses of 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 mg/kg administered daily for 60 days. The animals were sacrificed after 60 days. Blood was collected for biochemical (renal and hepatic), hematological, oxidative stress, sperm and histopathological examinations, using standard methods. LD50 of the extract was estimated as >4 000 mg/kg orally; neither significant visible signs of toxicity nor mortality were observed. There were no significant differences in the animals and organ weights, hematological and biochemical parameters in the treated groups compared to the control group. However, a significant increase (p<0.05) in the level of lipid peroxidation and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in sperm count were observed in the treated animals compared with the control group. The stem-bark aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea was found to be relatively safe, though it has the potential to cause lipid peroxidation and damage sperm quality and should thus be used with caution.

Hematological, antioxidant and protective performance of Usnea longissima on chemical induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals

“…The various hematologic parameters accustomed assess the toxic potential of plant extract in men and animals [34].…”

In vitro effects of tannin and extracts of Bridelia ferruginea and Mitragyna inermis on the exsheathment of infective larvae of Haemonchuscontortus

“…In humans, B. ferruginea and M. inermis have often been used to treat diabetes, malaria, dysentery and in animals, trypanosomiasis, diarrhoea, helminthosis [18][19][20][21][22]. Moreover, previous work has shown that both plants are not toxic [23][24][25].…”

Effects of Ethanol Extract of Bridelia ferruginea (W.) on the Haematological and Histopathological Parameters in Swiss Albino Rats Infected with Salmonella typhi

“…The weights of liver and kidney in all groups under observation slightly increases i.e (treated with ciprofloxacin and ethanol extract) when compared to the control(un-infected/untreated) except for the infected/treated where the weight was significantly reduced. [19] reported that since this is a non-significant increase in organ weights, by extrapolation and implication, the results may be an indication of the low toxicity and relative safety of the extract.Also, the increment in the relative weight of the kidney and liver reported in this study might be due to high presence of cardiac glycoside in the extract of B. ferruginea. Hence, this study agreed that its use should be controlled.…”

“…[26] stated granulocytes regulate the proliferation, differentiation and maturation of committed stem cells responsible for the production of WBC. Therefore, the decrease observed may imply that the ethanol stem bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea can cause immune suppression and also an impairment in the ability of the ethanol extract to stimulate the production of WBC s according to [19]. However, the significant increase (P< 0.05) in the group infected/un-treated with S. typhi was due to the fact that the rats were able to produced WBC which are capable of generating antibiotics in the process of phagocytosis and have high degree of resistance to diseases [23].…”