Evaluation of Acute and Sub-chronic Toxicities of Aqueous Ethanol Root Extract of Raphia hookeri Palmaceae) on Swiss Albino Rats

摘要

This study evaluated the acute and sub-chronic toxicities of treatment with aqueous ethanol root extract of Raphia hookri (Palmaceae) on rats. In acute toxicity study, the root extract in a graded doses of 125-2000 mg/kg bwt administered Intra-Peritoneal (IP) produced dose dependent mortality with median acute toxicity (LD₅₀) of approximately 562.3 mg/kg bwt. The animals fed with the extract by gavages tolerated up to 4000 mg/kg body weight (bwt) with no sign of physical/behavioural changes hence 1/20th of the dose (200 mg/kg) was used as the highest therapeutic dose. In sub-chronic toxicity study, significant increase (p 0.05) decrease in Red Blood Cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) level while White Blood Cell (WBC) showed increase. In tissue analysis, the extract caused marked deleterious effect on the testes leading to drastic reduction in sperm cells whereas tissues of liver, kidney and heart however showed normal appearance.