Pharmacological and histopathological assessment of <i>Phyllobotyron spathulatum</i> Müll.Arg.) in rats

Abstract

Presently, information on toxicity and anti-inflammatory studies of Phyllobotyron spathulatum appear scarce. This study adopted different methods to determine the anti-inflammatory potentials, toxicity, enzyme activity and histopathological examination of P. spathulatum using rats. The leaf samples of P. spathulatum were collected. Active ingredients were extracted by percolation using ethanol. The dried crude extracts were stored in the refrigerator at 4^oC under aseptic conditions for subsequent use. Acute toxicity testing of the leaf of the plant showed that the extract was well tolerated at a dose of 2000 mg/kg as the animals showed no sign of toxicity or death after 72 hours. A sub-chronic study using the relative weight as well as liver and kidney enzyme profile showed that the extract of the leaf of P. spathulatum at various concentrations did not significantly alter the relative weights. In vivo anti-inflammatory studies using animal model tests showed that the plant extract at 200 mg/kg concentration inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema by up to 81% when compared to 0% in water and the 92% in standardised drug after 3 days. Activity in the analysed liver enzymes as well as the kidney function markers were not affected at the extract concentration used. The safety of the plant material was further confirmed by the histopathological examinations which did not show any changes in the kidney and liver tissues examined. Results obtained from this study showed that the leaf of this plant is safe and can be employed in the management of inflammatory-related diseases.