African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (1), pp. 72-78, January 2005   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Toxicity studies in rats fed nature cure bitters

Stanley O. Aniagu¹*, Florence C. Nwinyi¹, David D. Akumka¹, Gloria A. Ajoku², Sunday Dzarma¹, Kazeem S. Izebe², Matthew Ditse³, Patrick E. C. Nwaneri⁴, Charles Wambebe¹ and Karynius Gamaniel¹

¹Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology;

²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology;

³Diagnostic Unit, NIPRD Staff Clinic; National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P. M. B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

⁴Nwaneri Botanic Centre Ltd., 35 Zik’s Avenue, Uwani – Enugu, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:  saniagu@yahoo.com. 

Accepted 5 October, 2004

Graded doses of Nature Cure Bitters (NCB) were administered daily (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) to rats for 28 days and the effects on body weight, organ weight, clinical signs, gross pathology, haematology, histology and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. The relative weights of the heart, liver and testes of treated rats were unaffected in contrast to a significant increase in the relative weights of the lungs, kidneys and spleen. The packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations were significantly reduced whereas total leucocyte counts and glucose levels were remarkably increased. A significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase occurred in all the groups but alanine aminotransferase and albumin levels were significantly elevated. NCB elicited hypo-cholesterolaemic effects in addition to lowering urea, uric acid, BUN and total protein concentrations. Histological findings did not reveal any treatment-related effects. The calculated therapeutic index was >37.5. These preliminary results suggest that NCB was not likely to produce severe toxicological effects on organ weights, haematological and biochemical indices when given at normal therapeutic doses.

Key words: Nature Cure Bitters, organ weight; pathology, haematology; serum biochemistry.