Effects of subacute oral administration of aqueous extract of Macaranga barteri Müll.Arg (Euphorbiaceae) leafon anthropometric and haematological parameters in rats.

Abstract

Macaranga barteri is a plant used in traditional medicine to treat many illnesses. Previous studies showed the efficacy of the aqueous extract of leaf ofthis plant (AEMb) in the treatment of gastric ulcer within the dose range of 125-500mg/kg body weight (b.w.). This study aims at evaluating the safety of AEMb on anthropometric and haematological parameters in wistar rats. Seventy rats were divided into seven groups of ten rats each, including five males and five females. The control group was repeatedly administered by gavage with distilled water at 1ml/100g for 28days while test groups 2, 3, 4 and 5, were repeatedly gavaged with AEMb at the doses of 125, 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg b.w. respectively. As for satellites (groups 6 and 7), they received daily and respectively distilled water at 1ml/100g b.w. and AEMb at the dose of 1000mg/kg b.w. The results showed that AEMbcaused no significant changes in the behaviour of rats and the weight of the organs removed (kidneys, liver, spleen, and heart) and their relative weights at the end of the 28days of treatment. However, the body weight and the amount of food consumed by animals treated with AEMb at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg b.w. increased significantly (p < 0.05) from the third week compared to control group. Haematological analysis revealed a non-significant increase (p > 0.05) in leukocyte lineage and platelet level infemale rats at the studied doses. However, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in platelet level was recorded in male rats at 1000mg/kg b.w. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg b.w. in treated animals was also revealed. In conclusion, repeated administration of AEMb over 28days to rats was safe on leucocyte lineage and most of erythrocyte indices at doses ranging from 125 to 1000mg/kg b.w. Nevertheless, the use of this extract caused a transient increase of erythrocyte, hemoglobin and platelet levels 2weeks after the end of AEMb administration, butthese effects disappeared. So, the subacute oral administration of AEMbrevealed few potential toxic effects overall.