Evaluation of Acute Toxicity of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Brachystegia eurycoma in Albino Wistar Rats

Aims: The acute oral toxicity of ethanol extract of Brachystegia eurycoma was evaluated in Wistar albino rats.

Study Design: Sixteen male Wistar albino rats were assigned in four groups of four rats each. Group 1 served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with a single dose of 2000, 3500 and 5000 mg/kg bd. wt of extract respectively and observed for fourteen days.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria, from 1st of April 2018 to 15th of April, 2018.

Methodology: Healthy wistar albino rats weighing 120 – 180 g were fasted over-night prior to dosing. The animals were observed physically for toxic effect for the first twenty four (24) hours and once daily for the next thirteen (13) days for delayed toxicity. On the 14th day, the rats were anesthetized, blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses while internal organs (kidney, heart, liver and spleen) were excised for histopathological examination.

Results: No mortality was observed at all doses of the extract. 2000 and 3500 mg/kg of the extract showed no toxic effect. A significant (p˂0.05) increase in alkaline phosphatase (240.0 ± 5.00 to 296.67 ± 7.57 IU/L units), serum albumin (19.46 ± 1.36 to 28.89 ± 2.50 g/dl units), total bilirubin (5.07 ± 0.15 to 5.73 ± 0.29 µmol/L units) and serum creatinine (68.23 ± 0.25 to 72.06 ± 1.90 µmol/L units) was observed at 5000 mg/kg of the extract with the presence of distorted tubules, lobulated glomerulus in the kidney and inflammatory cells in liver sinusoid.

Conclusion: Ethanol leaf extract B. eurycoma may possess nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials at very high dose.