TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Sterculia setigera FLOWERS ON BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Sterculia setigera Del. is a plant used traditionally to treat different ailments. Presently, scanty information is available on the flower and its safety. The aim of this study is to determine the acute toxicity of the methanolic extract on vital organs and its associated biochemical indices. Fifteen female Wistar Albino rats were divided into five groups of three rats each. Group I served as control, group II, III, IV and V were orally administered daily of crude extract dissolved in distilled water at 5mg/kg BW, 50mg/kg BW, 300mg/kg BW and 1,000mg/kg BW. Rats were observed for 14 days and body weights were recorded. On day 15, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for biochemical and haematological analysis, while the livers and kidneys were sampled for histopathological examination. Body weight and haematology profile of treated rats showed significance difference (p˂0.05) among means of HCT, MCV, MCHC, PLT and WBC. Histopathology result showed that kidneys appeared normal while livers showed mild periportal infiltration by inflammatory cells and focal mild microvesicular steatosis. However, hepatic enzymes were not significantly affected and no histopathological harmful effects were observed in kidney. In conclusion, methanolic extracts of S. setigera are safe up to 1,000mg/kg BW. The result obtained could be used to justify the folkloric usage of the plant for the treatment of different ailments.

 Keywords: Pharmacological; Phytochemical; Medicine; Haematological; Herbal

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo. 10580548