SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF THE AQEOUS EXTRACT OF PICRALIMA NITIDA ON SOME LIVER ENZYMES AND LIVER HISTOLOGY IN SRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

ABSTRACT

This study is based on the assessment of the In vivo acute and subchronic toxicity on the safety assessment of the aqueous extract of Picralima nitida stem bark on liver enzymes and liver histology of Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study and were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. Group I was fed with normal rat feed and water, group II was fed with 150mg/kg body weight, group III was fed with 300mg/kg body weight, group IV was fed with 800mg/kg body weight, group V was fed 2000mg/kg body weight while group VI was fed 5000mg/kg body weight for a period of twenty eight days. The preliminary phytochemical profile showed the presence of flavoniod, saponin, tainins, and alkaloid. These bioactive compounds may contribute to the reputed medicinal efficacy of Picralima nitida stem bark. Biochemical analysis showed that liver enzymes activities such as AST, ALT and ALP showed no significant difference between the control group and groups II, III, IV, V and VI. The histological evaluation shows that group II, group III, group IV, group V and group VI had evidence of Inflammatory cells in the portal region induced by 150mg/kg, 300mg/kg, 800mg/kg, 2000mg/kg and 5000mg/kg body weight respectively but as the dosage increased, the inflammation decreased. This however showed and suggested that irrespective of the reputed medicinal relevance of Picralima nitida stem bark, care should be taken in the quantity of these extract that is consumed as this may exhibit cumulative toxicity leading to functional impairment in the integrity of the liver