Abstract

TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES OF ETHANOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT OF SARCOSTEMMA VIMINALE

Moussa Yahaya, *Angela Nnenna Ukwuani, Caleb Francis

Abstract

The effects of Sarcostemma viminale leaves extract on thehaematological, toxicological and histopathological indices wereevaluated in rats. The extracts at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg did notproduce any behavioural sign of toxicity or mortality in any of theanimals tested during 14 days observation period and as such, LD50 ofthis plant was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. In the 28daysrepeated dose oral sub-chronic toxicity study, administration of 250,500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight Sarcostemma viminale leavesextracts revealed no significant difference (p>0.05) in thehaematological parameters. Analysis of biochemical parametersreveals no significant difference (p>0.05) in the extract treated groupswhen compared to the control group. The histopathologicalexamination of the treated groups showed no visible lesions or signs ofthe liver damage while the kidney revealed tubular congestion and necrosis, focalhaemorrhage and hyaline degeneration. These results suggest that the sub-chronicadministration of ethanolic extracts of Sarcostemma viminale leaves has no marked toxiceffect on the liver while unmasking the possible dangers of this plant to the kidney.

Keywords: Toxicity, Sarcostemma viminale, leaves extracts, ethanolic.