Abstract

This study evaluated the acute and sub-chronic toxicities of treatment with aqueous ethanol root extract of Raphia hookri (Palmaceae) on rats. In acute toxicity study, the root extract in a graded doses of 125-2000 mg/kg bwt administered Intra-Peritoneal (IP) produced dose dependent mortality with median acute toxicity (LD₅₀) of approximately 562.3 mg/kg bwt. The animals fed with the extract by gavages tolerated up to 4000 mg/kg body weight (bwt) with no sign of physical/behavioural changes hence 1/20th of the dose (200 mg/kg) was used as the highest therapeutic dose. In sub-chronic toxicity study, significant increase (p<0.05) in the animals’ body weight occurred at treatments with 50 and 100 mg/kg bwt doses whereas considerable decrease was observed at treatment with 200 mg/kg bwt extract dose. Significant increase (p<0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level occurred compared to the control while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed decrease that was marked at the highest extract dose. Total protein was comparatively the same with the control while total bilirubin decreased markedly. In kidney function profile, creatinine level showed decrease while urea level exhibited fluctuation. There was an insignificant (p>0.05) decrease in Red Blood Cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) level while White Blood Cell (WBC) showed increase. In tissue analysis, the extract caused marked deleterious effect on the testes leading to drastic reduction in sperm cells whereas tissues of liver, kidney and heart however showed normal appearance.

Keywords:

Acute toxicity, Raphia hookeri, sub-acute toxicity, tissue histology,

References

1. Agbor, G.A., J.E. Oben, D.C. McKnight, R.G. Mills, J.J. Bray and P.A. Crag, 1999. Human Physiology. 4th Edn., Churchill Livingstone, USA, pp: 290-294.
   
2. Akachukwu, C.O., 2001. Production and utilization of wine palm (Raphia hookeri Mann and Wendland). An important Weland Species Occasionally visited by honey bees. Proc. Aquatic Sc., 2001: 282-297.
   
3. Akpan, E.J. and I.F. Usoh, 2004. Phytochemical screening and effect of aqueous root extract of Raphia hookeri (raffia palm) on metabolic clearance rate of ethanol in rabbits. Biokemistri, 16(1): 37-42.
   
4. Akpan, E.J., E.O. Akpanyung and D.O. Edem, 1996. Antimicrobial properties of the mesocarp of the seed of Raphia hookeri. Nig. J. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 11: 89-93.
   
5. Barnett, H.A. and G. O'Gara, 2003. Diabetes and the Heart. Clinical Practice Series. Churchhill Livingstone, Edinburgh, UK.
   
6. Coles, E.H., 1986. Veterinary Clinical Pathology. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, USA, pp: 10-42.
   
7. Crook, M.A., 2006. Clinical Chemistry and Metabolic Medicine. 7th Edn., Hodder Arnold, London, pp: 426.
   
8. Dacie, J.C. and S.M. Lewis, 1995. Practical Haematology. 7th Edn., Churchill Livingstone, Edinburg, pp: 12-17.
   
9. De Gruchy, G.C., 1976. Clinical Haematology in Medical Practice. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford, London, pp: 33-57.
   
10. Ekaidem, I.S., M.I. Akpanabiatu, F.E. Uboh and O.U. Eka, 2006. Vitamin B12 supplementation: Effects on some biochemical and haematological indices of rats on phenytoin administration. Biokemistri, 18(1): 31-37.
    
11. Gbéassor, M., Y. Kossou, K. Amegbo, K. Koumaglo and A. Denke, 1989. Antimalarial effects of eight African medicinal plants. J. Ethnopharmacol., 25: 115-118.
    CrossRef    
12. Hussain, A. and H.M. Eshrat, 2002. Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of combination of curcumin from Curcuma longa, Linn and partially purified product from Abroma augusta, Linn. in streptozotocin induced diabetes. Indian J. Clin. Biochem., 17(2): 33-43.
    CrossRef    PMid:23105348 PMCid:PMC3454113    
13. ILAR, (Institute of Laboratory Animal Research), 1996. Commission on Life Science. National Research Council, Retrieved from: www.edu/openbook,php?record_id=5140.
    
14. Joshi, C.S., E.S. Priya and S. Venkataraman, 2007. Acute and sub acute studies on the polyherbal antidiabetic formulation Diakyur in experimental animal model. J. Health Sci., 53(2): 245-249.
    CrossRef    
15. Mbaka, G.O. and M.A. Owolabi, 2011. Evaluation of haematinic activity and subchronic toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) seed oil. Eur. J. Med. Plant, 1(4): 140-152.
    CrossRef    
16. Mbaka, G.O., S.O. Ogbonnia and A.E. Banjo, 2012a. Activity of Raphia hookeri root extract on blood glucose, lipid profile and glycosylated haemoglobin on alloxan induced diabetic rats. J. Morphol. Sci., 29(3): 1-9.
    
17. Mbaka, G.O., S.O. Ogbonnia, K.J. Oyeniran and P.I. Awopetu, 2012b. Effect of Raphia hookeri seed extract on blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Br. J. Med. Med. Res., 2(4): 621-635.
    CrossRef    
18. Miller, L.C. and M.L. Tainter, 1944. Estimation of the LD50 and its error by means of logarithmic probit graph paper. P. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 24: 839-840.
    
19. Mythilypriya, R., P. Shanthi and P. Sachdanandam, 2007. Oral acute and sub acute toxicity studies with Kalpaamruthaa, a modified indigenous preparation on rats. J. Health Sci., 53(4): 351-358.
    CrossRef    
20. Ogbonnia, S.O., J.I. Odimegwu and V.N. Enwuru, 2008. Evaluation of hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of aqueous ethanolic extracts of Treculia africana Decne and Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam. And their mixture on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Afr. J. Biotechnol., 7(15): 2535-2539.
    
21. Ogbonnia, S.O., G.O. Mbaka, A.M. Nwozor, H.N. Igbokwe, A. Usman and P.A. Odusanya, 2013. Evaluation of microbial purity and acute and sub-acute toxicities of a Nigerian commercial polyherbal formulation used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Brit. J. Pharm. Res., 3(4): 948-962.
    CrossRef    
22. Ogbonnia, S.O., G.O. Mbaka, F.E. Nkemehule, J.E. Emordi, N.C. Okpagu and D.A. Ota, 2014. Acute and subchronic evaluation of aqueous extracts of Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae) and Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) roots used singly or in combination in Nigerian traditional medicines. Br. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 5(1): 55-62.
    
23. Oyagbemi, A.A., A.B. Saba and R.O.A. Arowolo, 2008. Safety evaluation of prolonged administration of stresroak in grower cockerels. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 7(6): 1-5.
    CrossRef    
24. Pieme, C.A., V.N. Penlap, B. Nkegoum, C.L. Taziebou, E.M. Tekwe, F.X. Etoa and J. Ngongang, 2006. Evaluation of acute and subacute toxicities of aqueous ethanol extract of leaves of Senna alata (L.) Roxb (Ceasalpiniaceae). Afr. J. Biotechnol., 5(3): 283-289.
    
25. Pierangeli, G.V. and L.R. Windell, 2009. Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Chromolaena odorata (L. f). King and Robinson and Uncaria perrottetii (A. Rich) Merr. extracts. J. Med. Plants Res., 3(7): 511-518.
    
26. Raza, M., O.A. Al-Shabanah, T.M. El-Hadiyah and A.A. Al-Majed, 2002. Effect of prolonged vigabatrin treatment on hematological and biochemical parameters in plasma, liver and kidney of Swiss albino mice. Sci. Pharm., 70: 135-145.
    
27. Rojas, J.J., V.J. Ochoa, S.A. Ocampo and J.F. Munoz, 2006. Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine. A possible alternative in the treatment of nonnosocomial infections. BMC Complem. Altern. M., 6: 2-8.
    CrossRef    PMid:16483385 PMCid:PMC1395329    
28. Sherwin, J.E. and C. Thompson, 2003. Liver Function. In: Kaplan, L.A., A.J. Pesce and S.C. Kazmierczak (Eds.), Clinical Chemistry: Theory, Analysis, Correlation. 4th Edn., Mosby Inc., EDS St Louis, USA, pp: 493.
    
29. Sushruta, K., Satyanarayana, N. Srinivas and R.J. Sekhar, 2006. Evaluation of the blood-glucose reducing effects of aqueous extracts of the selected umbellifereous fruits used in culinary practice. Trop. J. Pharm. Res., 5(2): 613-617.
    
30. Tédong, L., P.D.D. Dzeufiet, T. Dimo, E.A. Asongalem, S.N. Sokeng, J.F. Flejou, P. Callard and P. Kamtchouing, 2007. Acute and Subchronic toxicity of Anacardium occidentale Linn (Anacardiaceae) leaves hexane extract in mice. Afr. J. Tradit. Complem., 4(2): 140-147.
    
31. Teguia, A., P.B. Telefo and R.G. Fotso, 2007. Growth performances, organ development and blood parameters of rats fed graded levels of steeped and cooked taro tuber (Esculenta) meal. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 19(6): 1-8.
    
32. Teo, S., D. Stirling, S. Thomas, A. Hoberman, A. Kiores and V. Khetani, 2002. A 90-day oral gavage toxicity study of D-methylphenidate and D.L-Thethylphenidate in sprague-dawley rats. Toxicology, 179: 183-196.
    CrossRef    
33. Thanabhorn, S., K. Jenjoy, S. Thamaree, K. Ingkaninan and A. Panthong, 2006. Acute and subacute toxicity study of the ethanol extract from Lonicera japonica Thunb. J. Ethnopharmacol., 107: 370-373.
    CrossRef    PMid:16697541    
34. Wasan, K.M., S. Najafi, J. Wong and M. Kwong, 2001. Assessing plasma lipid levels, body weight and hepatic and renal toxicity following chronic oral administration of a water soluble phytostanol compound FMVP4, to gerbils. J. Pharm. Sci., 4(3): 228-233.
    
35. WHO, 1966. Specifications for identity and purity and toxicological evaluation of food colours. WHO/Food Add/66.25 Geneva.
    

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

Open Access Policy

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.