|
Safety evaluation of the
extract from the shoots of Arctotis arctotoides in
rats and mice
Jimoh, F. O.1, Adedapo, A. A.2,
Sofidiya, M. O.3, Masika, P. J.4 and
Afolayan, A. J.1*
1Department
of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South
Africa.
2Department
of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
3Department
of Pharmacognosy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
4ARDRI,
University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
aafolayan@ufh.ac.za.
Fax: +2786 628 2295.
Accepted
3 April, 2008 |
|
The aqueous extract from the shoot of Arctotis arctotoides
(L.f.) O. Hoffm (Asteraceae) was evaluated for its acute
toxicity by the oral route in mice and for the sub-acute
effect on haematological, biochemical, and histological
parameters in rats. In the acute toxicity test, A.
arctotoides caused no death even up to 3200 mg/kg dose.
Oral treatments with this extract at 500, 1,000 and 2,000
mg/kg did not cause any significant change in the red blood
cell count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration,
mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin
concentration, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. It did
cause a significance increase in white blood cell count and
its differentials. The extract caused a significant decrease
in the levels of some liver enzymes, blood urea nitrogen,
potassium, total and conjugated bilirubin. Changes were
noted in the body and organ weights while variable changes
were observed in the levels of some electrolytes. No
significant lesions were observed in the organs examined.
The result indicated that the plant may be relatively safe
for medicinal uses.
Key
words:
Arctotis
arctotoides,
acute toxicity, sub acute toxicity haematology, serum
biochemistry, histopathology. |
