ABSTRACT
Daldinia concentrica is an ascomycetous fungus that is mostly found in tropical and temperate countries of the world. It is an inedible mushroom but have been used extensively for ethnomedicinal purposes across the world. It has been reported to be of use in traditional medicine in Africa, Nigeria to be precise, in the cure of ailments such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, leucorrhea, stomach upset, weakness of the body and many more. The medicinal potential of this fungus is as a result of the alkaloids present like saponins, steroids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, glycosides and tannins with daldinones and concentricols also present.
Daldinia concentrica, was evaluated for sub – acute toxicity and the experiment was carried out to evaluate the level of toxicity and the safety of the extract of the mushroom on wistar albino rats. Male and female wistar albino rats, five (5) per group for four groups, took oral doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg per day for nine (9) days. Behavioural activity, body weight, blood glucose level, organ – body weight and hematological parameters was observed on day 9. There was significant increase (P 0.05) in the body weight of the test groups when compared to the control. However, the heart size and blood glucose level of the 200 mg/kg body weight dose showed significant increase when compared to that of the control. Hematological parameters like white blood cell count and platelet count of the 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight dose also showed significant increase (P 0.05) as compared to the control. Information gathered in this experiment shows that the crude extract of the mushroom, Daldinia concentrica, is concluded to be non-toxic since the hematological parameters increased are not among the primary signs of toxicity but rather might be a source of boost to the immune system against foreign bodies.
