Acute and sub- chronic toxicity profile of <i>Annona muricata</i> (Sour sop) on wister albino rats

Abstract

In drug development, determination of its toxic profile is paramount and usually the initial step in its evaluation. Phytochemical constituent’s assessment can subsequently be elucidated. Annona muricata is an evergreen shrub that is endowed with ethno-medicinal values and also served as a source of food. The significant needs to evaluate the toxic profile of the plant lead to the design of this work. Therefore this work is designed to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, acute (LD₅₀ as the index) and sub-chronic toxicity profile of the leaf extracts. The effect of the extracts on the serum levels of some biochemical parameters which include alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Also include the effect on the kidney function parameters such as Urea, creatinine and electrolyte (K+, Na+, Cl- and HCO3-). The LD₅₀ of the extract indicated that the plant extract is relatively safe with no mortality recorded at dose >5000mg/kg body weight of the drug. There was no significant (P ˃ 0.05) significant difference in the serum level of ALP ALT and AST for the liver function test. In a related effect no significant variation recorded on the kidney function parameters. However, salient mild effect on the liver and kidney was observed from the histopathological examination, but can be effectively averted if extended use of higher concentration of the extract is avoided, as the effect is observed to be both concentration and time dependent. However the research findings observed and suggested, the possible hepato-protective and neuphro-protective potential of the plant methanol extract which should be further investigated.

Keywords: Acute toxicity, Sub-acute toxicity, Annona muricata, Albino rats, Liver function and Kidney function