Evaluation of the toxic effect of <i>Mansonia altisima</i> extract after short term oral administration to rats

Abstract

The effect of ethanolic extract of Mansonia altisima on biochemical and haematological parameters was examined using the rat as animal model. Female Wistar albino rats (105.00 ± 2.30g) were distributed into control and three test groups, with ten rats in each group. The test rats were treated orally by intubations with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g of the extrac kg body weight of the rat respectively. Control rats were administered the same volume of distilled water. Rats administered the highest dose of the extract had a significantly higher (P<0.05) activity of plasma aminotransferases as compared to the other exposure groups. The plasma alkaline phosphatase activities of rats in the test groups were not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other, but were significantly (P<0.05) reduced as compared to control. Also, no significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in plasma creatinine and urea of rats in all exposure groups. The plasma uric acid concentration of the test groups were not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other but were significantly (P<0.05) increased relative to control. A significant reduction in hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in rats administered the highest dose of 2.0g Mansonia/ kg body weight relative to control. There was a dose-dependent increase in WBC count of rats administered the extract compared to control. The study suggests that ethanolic extract of Mansonia was tolerated by the kidney at the doses investigated. However the extract appears to be haemato-and hepato-toxic at the highest dose of 2.0g/kg administered.

Keywords: Mansonia, extract, toxicity, rats

West African Journal of Pharmacology and Drug Research Vol. 20(1&2) 2005: 53-57