BIOSAFETY INVESTIGATION OF A POLYHERBAL LEAF ( Annona muricata, Zingiber officinale and Andrographis paniculata ) EXTRACT ON THE BODY WEIGHT AND HISTOLOGY OF THE LIVER AND KIDNEY IN WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Polyherbal therapy also known as herb-herb combination is gaining popularity for its efficacy against many diseases. However, there are safety concerns from possible antagonistic effects of bioactive compounds contained in it. This study is therefore aimed to investigate the biosafety of the polyherbal (Annona muricata, Adrographis paniculata leaf and Rhizomes of Zingiber officinale) extracts on the body weight and histology of the organs (liver and kidney) in Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats, were randomly divided into five groups. The animals were administered with graded doses (50, 100, 200 mg/kg). Negative control received water and food, positive control received Nitrofurazone (2 mg/kg), while the treated groups received (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) received the aqueous extract orally for 14 days. The body weight of the animals was measured weekly while the histological examination of the organs (liver and kidney) were carried out at the end of the experiment. The results showed no significant (p ≥0.05) change in the body weight of animals treated with the extract across the groups from day 1 to 14. The histological results of the organs revealed in the treated groups had mild inflammations with no pronounced damaging effect within organ. This finding suggests that the polyherbal extract at graded doses showed no changes.