Samson Eneojo Abalaka1 ,
Muhammad Yakasai Fatihu1,
Najume Doguwar Giginya Ibrahim1,
Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali2
1Department of Veterinary Patholog;
2Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
For correspondence:- Samson Abalaka
Email: seabalaka@yahoo.co.uk Tel:+2348037863462
Received: 11 January 2014
Accepted: 12 October 2014
Published: 24 November 2014
Citation:
Abalaka SE, Fatihu MY, Ibrahim ND, Ambali SF.
Haematotoxicity of Ethanol Extract of Adenium obesum (Forssk) Roem & Schult Stem Bark in Wistar Rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(11):1883-1887
doi:
10.4314/tjpr.v13i11.16
© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the acute toxicity of ethanol extract of Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult stem bark in Wistar rats in relation to haematological parameters.
Methods: This involved the administration of single dose of 300 mgkg-1, 2000 mgkg-1 and 5000 mgkg-1 of the extract by oral gavage separately to three different groups of female rats (n = 3) one after another based on the absence of mortality and/or morbidity during a 14-day observation period. The control group was administered distilled water as placebo (1 mL per 100 g body weight).
Results: The exposed rats did not show any obvious signs of toxicity, morbidity or mortality. Median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was ≥ 5000 mgkg-1 or ∞ (unclassified) based on the fixed LD50 cut-off values. Final body weight of control rats (196.00 ± 3.06 g) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the initial body weight (184.30 ± 1.45 g) and weight gain in extract treated groups was not significant (p > 0.05). Packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentrations in the rats (42.67 ± 1.33 %, 5.10 ± 0.20 x 1012 L-1 and 130.70 ± 2.96 gL-1, respectively did not change significantly (p > 0.05). However, the white blood cell count significantly increased from 7.50 ± 0.63 x 109 to 11.63 ± 0.50 x 109L-1 while the lymphocyte count significantly increased from 5.81 ± 0.43 x 109 to 9.99 ± 0.42 x 109 L-1 (p < 0.05) at the highest extract dose (5000 mgkg-1) compared to their respective controls.
Conclusion: Adenium obesum might not be haematotoxic and is considered a safe medicinal plant administered orally.
Keywords: Adenium obesum, Haemoglobin, Blood count, Mortality, Morbidity, Haematotoxicity