Acute and Sub-chronic Oral Toxicity of Anthocleista vogelii (Cabbage Tree) Root Hydroethanolic Extract in Albino Rats

Aims: The toxicity profile of Anthocleista vogelii ethanolic root extract was investigated in Albino rats due to its use in Nigerian ethno-medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: The acute and sub-chronic toxicity of A. vogelii root was investigated in Albino rats by measuring daily food intake, water intake and body weight of animals. At the end of the experiment, haematological and biochemical parameters were measured.

Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences and in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between January and May, 2014.

Methodology: The median lethal dose (LD50) was determined in acute toxicity studies and the plant extract was administered to albino rats upto 5000 mg/kg. In subchronic toxicity studies, 20 Albino rats (150-200 g) of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups of five animals each. The control group received distilled water (10 ml/kg), while the treatment groups were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg extract orally (p.o.) daily for twenty-eight days. Changes in body weight, food and water intake were measured daily. At the end of the subchronic toxicity studies, biochemical parameters [cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TRIG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL)], creatinine (CRT), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)], haematological parameters (packed cell volume [PCV], haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell [RBC] and white blood cell [WBC]) and relative organ weight were determined while the liver and kidney tissues were examined histologically.

Results: The result showed that a single oral dose of the extract at 5000 mg/kg did not produce mortality (LD50 of the extract was ≥ 5000 mg/kg). However, in the sub-chronic toxicity studies, there was a significant P < 0.05 decrease in WBC, serum ALT, AST and CRT levels and an increase in PCV, RBC, water intake in week 3 and 4 when compared with the control. There was no pathological change in the liver and kidney tissues.

Conclusion: In conclusion from the present study, A. vogelii ethanolic root extract is safe when administered acutely (p.o) and it has no toxic effect when administered to Albino rats daily for twenty-eight days.