Abstracto

Effects of Pseudocedrela kotschyi stem bark on blood chemistry and histology of some organs in rats.

Attah D. Daniel

Pseudocedrela kotschyi is a plant commonly found in Africa and is used by traditional practitioners in the treatment of malaria, as a purgative, antipyretic, anti-ulcer and wound dressing agent. The objective of this study was to investigate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the stem bark of the plant in Wistar rats. In acute test, the limit test dose of 1,500 mg/kg was orally administered to Wistar rats and then observed individual for 72 hours post dosing and once every day for 14 days, and the Median lethal dose (LD50) was found to be 1,225 mg/kg body weight. The subchronic toxicity study was done using standard protocol in graded doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/ kg, and 400 mg/kg of the plant extract for 28 days. At the end of treatment, chloroform was used to euthanize the rats and was examined both grossly and histopathologically. Administration of extracts for the 28 days at various doses did not record any death of the rats; however, loss of appetite and reduced activity were observed in rats dosed with 400 mg/kg. Mild histological lesions were also observed in the liver, kidney and heart respectively. It is suggestive that the extract has a wide safety margin, meanwhile, the histopathological lesions found in the various organs suggests that the extract should be administered with caution when used for prolonged period.