Toxicity Studies Of Ethanolic Leaf Extract Of <i>Adansonia digitata</i>

Abstract

In Ayurvedic system of healing, Adansonia digitata is used as a medicinal plant for the treatment of several ailments and diseases. This study is aimed to evaluate the toxicological, hematological, biochemical and histological parameters of A. digitata Leaf (ADL) extract in mice. Ethanolic leaf extract was administered to the mice using the Lork’s method, after which the toxicity effects, liver and kidney functions, as well as hematological and histological parameters were evaluated. The result showed that there was 25% mortality in both phases which occurred at high concentrations. There was significant difference in Red Blood Cell (RBC) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) counts and also there was a slight increase in the White blood Cell (WBC) and Platelet counts. For the liver function test, Alkaline transaminases (ALT),  Aspartate transaminases (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were elevated while Total Protein (TP) decreased at high concentration (800mg/kg). The results of kidney function showed that ADL extract caused decrease in sodium and potassium levels in low concentration and increased in high concentration and there was significant difference in the creatinine level. The histology of organs after the treatment showed no effect on the heart and lung tissues even at 800mg/kg body weight but showed slight Glomerular and Hepatic necrosis and Hyperplasia of inflammatory cells in spleen tissue. The extracts showed normal morphologies on tissue histology of organs from mice at lower concentrations however, all the abnormalities seen were found at higher doses. This suggest that the extract is non-toxic at low doses as such should be used with caution at high doses.