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Toxicological evaluation
of aqueous extracts of Hermannia incana Cav. leaves
in male Wistar rats
J.R. Appidi, M.T. Yakubu,
D.S. Grierson and A.J. Afolayan*
Department
of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South
Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
aafolayan@ufh.ac.za.
Fax: +27 866282295.
Accepted
19 December, 2008 |
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The effects of the administration of aqueous extract of
Hermannia incana Cav. leaves at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg
body weight for 14 days on some biochemical parameters of
male rats were investigated. Extract administration did not
produce any significant effect on the liver and kidney body
weight ratios, red blood cell, haemoglobin, packed cell
volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular
haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red
cell distribution width, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils,
cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and
atherogenic index. The extract did not also affect the
levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphorus,
urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, albumin, total
and conjugated bilirubin. The activities of alkaline
phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine
aminotransferase in the serum were increased by the extract.
While the large unstained cells and platelets increased at
400 and 600 mg/kg body weight only, the same dose levels
also decreased the activity of aspartate aminotransferase in
the serum. The levels of lymphocytes and eosinophils were
significantly affected at 600 mg/kg body weight. The
available evidence in this study suggests that the extract
of H. incana leaf extract is mild, parameter and dose
specific. Therefore, it may not be completely 'safe' as an
oral remedy.
Key
words:
Hermannia incana, biochemical parameters, serum
lipid, function indices, mild toxicity, haematological
parameters, Sterculiaceae. |
