Toxicological evaluation of aqueous leaf extract of Ficus exasperata on selected tissues of normal Wistar rats

摘要

This study reports the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Ficus exasperata Vahl on some biochemical and haematological parameters of normal Wistar rats. Twenty, albino rats of both sexes weighing 146.21 ± 8.66 g were randomly assigned into four groups (A-D) of five each. Animals in Group A, (control) received 1 ml of distilled water thrice daily for eight days, while those in groups B, C and D were treated like the control except they were administered with same volume of the extract corresponding to 2.5, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg body weight respectively. The extract reduced (p&0.05) the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the kidney of the animals with corresponding increase in the serum. In contrast, the extract increased the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the liver as well as the serum ALT whereas the serum AST decreased. The total protein content of the animals increased whereas the serum total bilirubin, creatinine and chloride ions content decreased significantly. The levels of bicarbonate ions, haemoglobin, red blood cells, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were not significantly altered whereas those of white blood cells, platelets and lymphocytes increased significantly. Overall, the results indicated that oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Ficus exasperata thrice daily for eight days at the doses of 2.5, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg body weight caused cellular toxicity and could hamper normal functioning of the liver and kidney of the animals. It also exhibited localized systemic toxicity in the animals. Therefore, the aqueous leaf extract of Ficus exasperata is not safe as an oral remedy at the doses investigated in the present study