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Toxicity profile of aqueous extract of <i>Cassia alata</i> flower in Wistar rats
Abstract
The aqueous extract of Cassia alata (Linn.) flower has been used to treat various ailments in folklore medicine in various parts of Africa. Toxicological evaluation of C. alata extract flower was determined in Wistar rats at doses of 100, 400 and 800 mg/kg by oral administration for 4 weeks and the effect on anthropometric, haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters were assessed. The extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and platelets counts at doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg in the female rats. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the lipid profile, biochemical parameters, body weight and relative organ weight in the treated rats compared to the control. Examination of histological sections of the liver, lung, kidney, spleen and heart did not show any remarkable changes or gross pathological changes during the post mortem examination of the animals at all doses compared with the control. The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous extract of C. alata flower is relatively safe when administered orally in rats.
Keywords: Cassia alata; Toxicity; Liver function; Renal function; Haematology