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Evaluation of acute and
subacute toxicity of Alstonia congensis Engler (Apocynaceae)
bark and Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal)
A. Rich (Annonaceae) fruits mixtures used in the treatment
of diabetes
Ogbonnia, S.1*,
Adekunle, A. A.2, Bosa, M. K.2 and
Enwuru, V. N.1
1Department
of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos
College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
2Department
of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka,
Lagos, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
steveogbonnia@hotmail.com.
Accepted
14 February, 2008 |
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The present study was carried out to evaluate acute and
subacute toxicity of a hydroalcoholic extract of a mixture
(1:1) of A. congensis bark and X.
aethiopica fruits used locally in the treatment of
diabetes. Acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated in
Swiss albino mice. The animals were fed with the
hydroalcoholic extract between the doses of 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg
body weight and were observed continuously for the first 4 h
and for every hour for the next 24 h, then 6 hourly for 48
h. Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of the
extract for 30 days and effects on biochemical parameters
evaluated (subacute toxicity model). The LD50 of
the extract was found to be above 20.0 g/Kg body weight.
There was reduction in the plasma glucose and low-density
lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, and increase in
high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in the
treated animals. A significant increase in the body weight
was observed for groups treated with lower doses of the
extract while groups treat with higher doses showed no
significant weight increase. Aspartate aminotransferases
(AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels were not
affected at lower doses of the extract but there was
increase in creatinine levels in all the treated animals.
The extract demonstrated good hypoglycaemic effects by
lowering the plasma sugar level and also had some beneficial
and reduction effects on cardiovascular risk factors. There
was no evidence of drug-induced symptoms or death at all the
doses of the extract administered in acute study but
subacute results revealed a tendency to cause kidney
problems on a long-term use.
Key
words:
Acute, subacute, toxicity, Alstonia congensis and
Xylopia aethiopica, diabetes. |
