Abstract
Background:Among the Kamba community of Kenya, roots ofFagaropsis hildebrandtii(FH) are boiled and used in managing cough, fertility problems, and microbial infections. The safety of this plant in oral administration and the validity of the ethnomedical claims is unverified. This study evaluated the toxicity of the aqueous and hexane root extracts of FH in mice and antimicrobial effects againstStaphylococcus aureus,Salmonella typhimuriumandCandida albicans.Methods: Doses (300 and 2000mg/kg) of the extracts were administered orally to mice for 14 days. The weight, feed, and water consumption, organ weight of mice and gross macroscopy of the liver were used in evaluating acute toxicity. Mice were additionally treated with 250, 500, and 1000mg/kg body weight doses of the extracts for 28 days and haematological, biochemical, and histological parameters noted. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MIC; MBC/MFC) of the extracts against the aforementioned pathogens were determined by broth dilution.Results:Acute oral toxicity of the extracts was >2000mg/kg, there were dose dependent changes in haematological and biochemical parameters, all female mice died when treated with doses of 1000mg/kg and doses ≥500mg/kg caused tubular degeneration and haemorrhage of the kidney, cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, and multifocal necrosis and pyknosis in the liver. The MBC/MIC ratio of each of the extracts againstStaph. aureusandS. typhimuriumwas 2, whileC. albicanswas not sensitive to any of the extracts.Conclusions:Long term use of root extracts of FH was associated with dose-dependent changes in the kidney and liver of mice and changes in biochemical and haematological parameters. Root extracts of FH are bactericidal againstStaph. aureusandS. typhimuriumbut have no effect onC. albicans. Future work should aim at identifying the metabolites responsible for the observed toxic and bactericidal effects of the roots of FH.
Highlights
In the last two decades, the demand for and access to complementary and alternative medicine has grown exponentially[1]
Preliminary phytochemical screening of AQRFH revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids while the screening of HEXRFH revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenolics, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids (Table 1)
We believe that the present study provides the first account of the safety of any part of F. hildebrandtii on oral administration in any animal model
Summary
In the last two decades, the demand for and access to complementary and alternative medicine has grown exponentially[1]. The safety profile of some of the medicinal plants used in complementary and alternative therapies are unknown despite positive ethnomedical reports emanating from various communities around the world. Among the Kamba community of Kenya, roots of Fagaropsis hildebrandtii (FH) are boiled and used in managing cough, fertility problems, and microbial infections The safety of this plant in oral administration and the validity of the ethnomedical claims is unverified. Results: Acute oral toxicity of the extracts was >2000mg/kg, there were dose dependent changes in haematological and biochemical parameters, all female mice died when treated with doses of 1000mg/kg and doses ≥500mg/kg caused tubular degeneration and haemorrhage of the kidney, cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, and multifocal necrosis and pyknosis in the liver. Root extracts of FH are bactericidal against Staph. aureus and S. typhimurium but have no version 2
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
