Evaluation of the Effect of Subchronic Administration of the 70% Ethanol Extract of Millettiea ferruginea (Hochst) Bak (Fabaceae) Seeds on Biochemical, Haematological and Histopathological Parameters in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Millettiea ferruginea (Hochst) Bak (Fabaceae) is an indigenous plant, traditionally used for the treatment of various disease conditions in Ethiopia  without substantiating its safety. This study, therefore, evaluated its toxicity in albino Wistar rats. The hydroalcoholic extract of M. ferruginea was prepared by maceration of the powdered seeds in 70% ethanol. The effect of extract administration to albino Wistar albino rats for 90 days at doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg b/w was investigated. Subchronic administration of the extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg decreased mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and monocytes in female rats. The blood levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK) and urea in the female, and CK in male rats treated with the extract at 250 mg/kg were significantly increased. Histopathological investigation of the liver revealed signs of blood congestions in portal vein and hepatic artery at 125 mg/kg, and minor inflammation, congestions and focal hepatocellular necrosis at 250 mg/kg in both sexes. The extract produced atrophy of the glomeruli, widened urinary space and
inflammation of the kidney at both doses, and also caused minor tubular necrosis and peritubular blood congestions at 250 mg/kg in both male and female rats. In the heart of extract treated rats, there were congestions of blood vessels and necrosis of myocardium at both doses, and inflammation at 250 mg/kg. Desquamation and infiltration of the mucosa at both doses, and submucosal atrophy at 125 mg/kg and blood congestions at 250 mg/kg were observed in the small intestine of extract treated rats. The present findings suggest that the extract is relatively safe at therapeutic dose, although some signs of toxicity occurred mainly at the higher dose in female rats. Additional investigations on chronic administration of the extract is recommended to further substantiate the safety of the plant.

Keywords: Millettia ferruginea, ethanol seed extract, toxicity, histopathology, Wistar albino rats