Toxicological evaluation of a polyherbal formulation on biochemical parameters in Spraque-Dawley rats

Background: Alomo bitters is an alcoholic polyherbal formulation consumedorally in Nigeria for its anti-pile and libido enhancing effects.Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the toxicity of the alcoholic herbal formulation of subchronic oral administration in laboratory rats.Methods: The oral LD50 was determined using the Miller and Tainter method. For the subchronic study, rats of both sexes were administered 0.12, 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg of alomo bitters daily for 40 days while control rats were administered 5 mL/kg distilled water. At the end of the study, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood samples collected for hematological and biochemical analysis.Results: The LD50 oral was found to be 1.74mL/kg. There was progressive increase in mean weight gain of treated rats at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively compared to control. For the biochemical assay, a dose dependent significant (p< 0.05) increase was observed in the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) with a corresponding significant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively compared to the controls.In the hematological assay, there was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in PCV and RBC at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg. Conversely, WBC was significantly (p< 0.05) increased at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively.Conclusion: The alcoholic herbal formulation investigated in this study can be considered relatively safe for consumption at lower doses within a short period of time. However, long term consumption of the herbal drink and at high doses poses a significant risk and damaging effect hence, could compromise human health.Keywords: Polyherbal, subchronic, hematological, biochemica

Sub-chronic toxicity study of the aqueous extract of fresh nuts of Plukenetia conophora in rats

Background: Nuts of consumed of Plukenetia conophora as food and used traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of Plukenetia conophora in laboratory rats.Method: 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg of extracts of Plukenetia conophora were administered orally for 90 days. At the end of administration, blood samples was collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Vital organs were harvested for histopathological assessment.Results: There was no mortality recorded on oral administration of PC up to 2 g/kg. For the biochemical assay, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at all doses. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was also reduced at 500 and 750 mg/kg respectively compared to control. Cholesterol (CHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at all treatment doses compared to controls. On hematological assessment, red blood cell count (RBC) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased at all treatment doses. Platelet (PLT) and white blood cell (WBC) counts was significantly (p < 0.05) increased at 250 and 750 mg/kg respectively compared to the controls. Histological evaluation of vital organs showed interstitial inflammation in the lungs while other organs assessed appeared normal.Conclusion: This investigation showed that the extract could be hepatoprotective and possibly serve as an immuno-stimulant. However, it could increase the risk factor for cardiovascular morbidities on sub-chronic exposure.Keywords: Plukenetia , Sub-chronic toxicity, Hematological, Biochemical, Histologica