Volume 15, Issue 36, July - December, 2021

Toxicological evaluation of Vitex doniana stem bark methanol extract in female albino rats

Ukwuani-Kwaja AN, Sani I, Zubairu A^♦

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Science, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Abdulhamid Zubairu Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Science, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Modern therapeutic drugs are not generally acceptable, their accessibility are limited and also have more side effects hence there is need to search for safe natural alternatives from medicinal plants. This research was aimed at evaluating the toxicological effect of methanol stem bark extract of Vitex doniana in female albino rats. Vitex doniana stembark extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening, acute oral toxicity (LD50) and subchronic toxicity studies were carried out adopting standard procedure. Phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, glycoside, balsam and volatile oil are present. The LD50 of the extract is estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg and no mortality or any sign of toxicity recorded within 14 days. Sub chronic toxicity studies showed a significant (P<0.05) progressive increase between weeks 2 - 4. In the subchronic toxicity study serum, AST and ALT significantly decrease (P<0.05) in most extract treatment groups compared to the control group. There was no significant differences (P˃0.05) in ALB, TB and DB when compared to control group. However, ALP and TP levels where showed significantly altered (P<0.05) in the treated groups compared to control. Serum creatinine, urea, HCO-3 and Cl- levels of treated groups were not significantly different (P˃0.05) when compared to control. Although K,+ uric acid and Na+ showed significant increase (P<0.05) in several treatment groups when compared to control group. Heamatological indices such as in WBC, haemoglobin, neutrophils and PCV of the treatment groups were not significant different (P˃0.05) compared to control. However, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophil and basophils showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in some of the extract treatment groups compared to control group. Histopathological examination on liver and uterus of rats showed normally distributed portal triad, central vein and hepatocytes and regular endometrial gland and stroma respectively. The uterus also exhibit a dose dependent decrease in endometrial thickness. In conclusion, Vitex doniana methanol stem bark extract is relatively nontoxic at both acute and subchronic treatment.

Keywords: Toxicity, Acute, Subchronic, Vitex doniana, liver, kidney, histology.

Drug Discovery, 2021, 15(36), 169-180

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