Authors :
Chime Chukwudi Samuel ; Agu Uchenna Augustine ; Abonyi Obiora Emmanuel ; Esom Anayochukwu Emmanuel
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/9k7mt2yd
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25apr2155
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
The era of synthetic drugs has led to plethora of side effects, some of which are life-threatening As a result,
ethnopharmacology has become prominent across different climes in recent years. Even in advanced cultures, people are
increasingly drawing closer to natural medicine. Humans have suffered untold challenges as a result of paucity of knowledge
of toxicological profiles of different medicinal plants, especially in the tropics. The study investigated the acute and chronic
toxicological effects of Dialium guineense in albino Wistar rats with the view to ascertaining its relative bio-safety. Twenty
albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of four rats each thus: Group1 Normal control, Groups 2-4 (400,
800 and 1200 mg/kg bw) of 80% methanol extract of Dialium guineense. The study lasted for 29 days. The acute toxicity was
carried out according to Lorke’s method (1983). The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses results showed
the presence of glycosides, reducing sugar, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, total phenolics, steroids and terpenoids in different
amounts. The result of acute toxicity indicated no death of any mice at 5000 mg/kg bw. The results of liver markers indicated
that alanine aminotansferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and total protein, albumin, total bilirubin and direct
bilirubin levels of the treatment were non-significantly (P>0.05) different compared to the normal rats, though AST showed
a significant (P<0.05) increase in activity in Dialium guineense administered groups compared to the normal control. The
results of the serum electrolytes levels sodium and potassium ions indicated a non-significant (P>0.05) increase in
concentrations of groups 2-4 compared to group 1. However, Cland HCO3 levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 400
mg/kg bw compared to group1. The results of urea and creatinine showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in their levels at
1200 mg/kg bw compared to group 1. The results of the lipid profile demonstrated that the lipid panel (total cholesterol,
triacylglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein) of treatment groups was non-significantly (P>0.05)
different in concentrations compared to the normal control. The packed cell volume, platelet levels, white blood cells count
and differential count showed non-significant (P>0.05) differences in levels and counts of treatment groups compared to
normal group. The haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells count showed a significant (P<0.05) differences in treatment
groups compared to group 1. Normal renal histo-architecture was observed in normal control group. On the other hand,
400 mg/kg bw showed some epithelial degeneration while 800 mg/kg bw demonstrated mild epithelial changes with mild
inflammatory cell infiltration in the surrounding interstitial spaces. Group four (1200mg/kg bw) showed moderate renal
tubular atrophy. With respect to liver cells investigations, group one showed normal hepatic histo-architecture whereas
group two showed moderate hepatic degeneration. Group three showed marked hepatic vacuolation and disorganization
consistent with cellular degeneration. Group four showed a nearly normal hepatic histo-architecture. The cardiac
histolology showed that groups one, two and three exhibited normal cardiac histo-architecture while group four showed
mild to moderate inflammatory cell infiltration, though no significant necrosis was observed. There was no major challenge
to albino mice at acute exposure of methanol extract of Dialium guineese. The findings in the albino Wistar rats suggested
that caution is needed in prolonged intake of methanol extract of Dialium guineese. This is to avoid some of the critical
observations in the histo-chemical investigations, though no drug is without side effects. The plant could be employed as a
pharmacological agent at a moderate dosage.
Keywords :
Acute Toxicity, Chronic Toxicity, Liver, Kidneys, Dialium Guineense, Albino Wistar Rats.
References :
- Ahamefula, A. A., Onyekwere, B. C., Ogbuchi, E. U. G. I., Ihemetu, G. U. and Echeme, J. B. O. (2018). Chemical Constituents of Methanol Leaf Extract of Aspilia Africana CC. D. Adams by GCMS. International Journal of Advanced Research in Chemical Science. 5(10): 21-29 (2018).
- Alem A., Edae C. K., Wabolo E. K. and Wondimu B. Z. (2021). Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Electrolyte Disorders in Cancer Patients. SAGE Open Medicine.9:1-7
- Bartels H and Bohmer M. (1972). In vitro Determination of Creatinine and Urea. Clinical Chemistry, 2: 37-193
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- Heinrich, M. and Gibbons, S. (2001). Ethnopharmacology in Drug Discovery: An Analysis of its role and Potential Contribution. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 53(4): 425-32.
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- Michel J. and Martin-Ventura J. L. (2020). Red Blood Cells and Hemoglobin in Human Atherosclerosis and Related Arterial Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(18): DOI:10.3390/ijms21186756
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- Nerkar, A. G., Nagarkar, R. and Badar, S. (2023). Ethnopharmacological Review of Tumeric for Anticancer Activity. Current Trends in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry:5(1)10-15.
- Patel, D. k., Prasad, S. K., Kumar, R. and Hemalatha, S. (2012). An overview of antidiabetic medicinal plants having insulin mimetic property. The Asain Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2(4): 320-330.
- Reitman S, and Frankel S. (1957). A colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxaloacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 28: 56-63.
- Shaman, S., Jose, J., Kumar, S. and Ahmed, R. (2020). A Brief Study of Nephroprotective Agents. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research. 8(1):9-13.
- Skeggs L. T, and Hochstrasser H. C. (1964). Colorimetric Determination of Chloride. Clinical Chemistry, 10:918.
- Terri AE, and Sesin PG. (1958). Colorimetric Determination of Potassium. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 29:86.
- Trinder P. (1951). Colorimetric Determination of Sodium. Analyst, 76:596.
- Thompson, M., Jaiswall, Y., Wang, I. and Williams, L. (2017). Hepatotoxicity: Treatment, Causes and Applications of Medicinal Plants as Therapeutic Agents. The Journal of Phytopharmacology. 6(3):186-193.
The era of synthetic drugs has led to plethora of side effects, some of which are life-threatening As a result,
ethnopharmacology has become prominent across different climes in recent years. Even in advanced cultures, people are
increasingly drawing closer to natural medicine. Humans have suffered untold challenges as a result of paucity of knowledge
of toxicological profiles of different medicinal plants, especially in the tropics. The study investigated the acute and chronic
toxicological effects of Dialium guineense in albino Wistar rats with the view to ascertaining its relative bio-safety. Twenty
albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of four rats each thus: Group1 Normal control, Groups 2-4 (400,
800 and 1200 mg/kg bw) of 80% methanol extract of Dialium guineense. The study lasted for 29 days. The acute toxicity was
carried out according to Lorke’s method (1983). The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses results showed
the presence of glycosides, reducing sugar, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, total phenolics, steroids and terpenoids in different
amounts. The result of acute toxicity indicated no death of any mice at 5000 mg/kg bw. The results of liver markers indicated
that alanine aminotansferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and total protein, albumin, total bilirubin and direct
bilirubin levels of the treatment were non-significantly (P>0.05) different compared to the normal rats, though AST showed
a significant (P<0.05) increase in activity in Dialium guineense administered groups compared to the normal control. The
results of the serum electrolytes levels sodium and potassium ions indicated a non-significant (P>0.05) increase in
concentrations of groups 2-4 compared to group 1. However, Cland HCO3 levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 400
mg/kg bw compared to group1. The results of urea and creatinine showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in their levels at
1200 mg/kg bw compared to group 1. The results of the lipid profile demonstrated that the lipid panel (total cholesterol,
triacylglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein) of treatment groups was non-significantly (P>0.05)
different in concentrations compared to the normal control. The packed cell volume, platelet levels, white blood cells count
and differential count showed non-significant (P>0.05) differences in levels and counts of treatment groups compared to
normal group. The haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells count showed a significant (P<0.05) differences in treatment
groups compared to group 1. Normal renal histo-architecture was observed in normal control group. On the other hand,
400 mg/kg bw showed some epithelial degeneration while 800 mg/kg bw demonstrated mild epithelial changes with mild
inflammatory cell infiltration in the surrounding interstitial spaces. Group four (1200mg/kg bw) showed moderate renal
tubular atrophy. With respect to liver cells investigations, group one showed normal hepatic histo-architecture whereas
group two showed moderate hepatic degeneration. Group three showed marked hepatic vacuolation and disorganization
consistent with cellular degeneration. Group four showed a nearly normal hepatic histo-architecture. The cardiac
histolology showed that groups one, two and three exhibited normal cardiac histo-architecture while group four showed
mild to moderate inflammatory cell infiltration, though no significant necrosis was observed. There was no major challenge
to albino mice at acute exposure of methanol extract of Dialium guineese. The findings in the albino Wistar rats suggested
that caution is needed in prolonged intake of methanol extract of Dialium guineese. This is to avoid some of the critical
observations in the histo-chemical investigations, though no drug is without side effects. The plant could be employed as a
pharmacological agent at a moderate dosage.
Keywords :
Acute Toxicity, Chronic Toxicity, Liver, Kidneys, Dialium Guineense, Albino Wistar Rats.