Antimicrobial screening and the toxicity of the aqueous extract of the root of <i>Zanthozylum zanthozyloides</i> on haematology and the spleen of wistar rats

Abstract

This study examines the antimicrobial and toxicity of aqueous extract of the root of Zanthozylum  zanthozyloides on haematological parameters such as red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV),  Platelets (PLT). Fourty (40) male and female adult wistar rats weighing between 115 and 245g were used for acute (7 day administration) and chronic (28 days administration) toxicity studies. The animals were  divided into eight groups; group 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 were administered 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, and  2500mg/kg respectively while Groups 5 and 8 were used as control and were administered distilled water. The toxic manifestation, mortality, body weight changes were monitored during the period of  administration and the result showed significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight with resultant increase in haematological parameters (RBC, PCV) and decrease in platelets (PLT). The antimicrobial screening of  the extract of Z. zanthozyloides showed zones of inhibition against S. epidermis (12.33 mm), P. vulgaris (14.33 mm), R. oryzae (11.33 mm) and maximum inhibition against E. coli (10.00 mm) while  insignifantly (P>0.05) inhibited Klepsiella spp. (8.33 mm), P. chrysogenum (11.33 mm) and S. cerevisiae (11.00 mm). The significant increase in body weight of the animal resulting to increase in haematological parameters indicates that there is no significant damage recorded on the spleen organ analysed, while the antimicrobial screening reviews that Z. zanthozyloides could be used as a broad spectrum antibiotics as it inhibits the growth of both bacteria and fungi organisms. This study showed that the aqueous extracts of Z. zanthozyloides could be used as a broad spectrum antibiotics as it inhibits the growth of both  bacteria and fungi organisms. The aqueous extract Z. zanthozyloides significantly (P<0.01) increased the body weight of the test animals for 28 days administration, causing increase in the haematological parameter such as RBC, PCV and decrease PLT which were significant at (P<0.01, P<0.001) for 7 days administration.