Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Root Extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides

Abstract

The aqueous root extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides was used to study the toxicity pattern of the plant. The extract was found to be non-toxic up to 20g/kg, when given by the oral route to mice within 24h and for additional 14 days. Acute (24h, i.p.) toxicity test, however, produced a dose dependent mortality with LD50 of 455.2+3.6 mg/kg. Subchronic (45 days) oral toxicity tests in rats did not show any mortality, and there was no significant (P<0.05) change in body weight compared to the control. Feeding habit and water intake did not change, at the doses tested – 80mg/kg, 400mg/kg & 2g/kg, throughout the study. No significant (P<0.05) change in weight of vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and spleen was recorded. But a significant increase in the weight of lungs was produced at 2g/kg of the extract. Also, an insignificant decrease in the weight of the liver was produced as the doses increased. Haematological studies revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in red blood cell (RBC) at 400mg/kg and 2g/kg, but no significant change in percentage packed cell volume (PCV %) and haemoglobin (Hb) were noted. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were also not affected significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, an insignificant (P<0.05) reduction of WBC was recorded in all the doses tested. Differential WBC counts revealed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in neutrophil at 2g/kg and monocytes at all doses. Biochemical parameters such as serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and uric acid levels were also not significantly (P<0.05) altered compared with the control. The results showed that the extract is not potentially toxic, even when taken chronically, justifying its use in traditional medicine.


KEY WORDS: Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, toxicity, organs, haematological, biochemical


Nig. Jnl Health & Biomed. Sciences Vol.3(1) 2004: 20-23