Haematotoxicity of ethanol extract of &lt;i&gt;Adenium obesum&lt;/i&gt; (Forssk) Roem &amp; Schult stem bark in Wistar rats

Se Abalaka,Ndg Ibrahim,Sf Ambali,My Fatihu

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v13i11.16

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). Packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentrations in the rats (42.67 ± 1.33 %, 5.10 ± 0.20 x 10 12 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 10 9 to 11.63 ± 0.50 x 10 9 L -1 while the lymphocyte count significantly increased from 5.81 ± 0.43 x 10 9 to 9.99 ± 0.42 x 10 9 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

Highlights

Adenium obesum (Forssk) Roem & Schult is an ornamental plant that is cultivated worldwide because of its characteristically pink “showy” flowers that confers on it the name “Desert rose” [1]
This notwithstanding, Adenium obesum is a reputable medicinal plant that is chewed as an abortifacient to produce miscarriages or induce
Twelve female rats of 180.80 ± 4.55 g mean weight were sourced from the Animal Unit of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Adenium obesum (Forssk) Roem & Schult is an ornamental plant that is cultivated worldwide because of its characteristically pink “showy” flowers that confers on it the name “Desert rose” [1]. There is dearth of information on structured investigations into acute toxicity of the plant in exposed animals, especially as it relates to its haematotoxicity in exposed rats thereby necessitating the present study. Twelve female rats of 180.80 ± 4.55 g mean weight were sourced from the Animal Unit of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. These were acclimatized for seven days in clean metal cages in a well ventilated room under natural photoperiod (12/12-h). Data were analyzed (mean ± SEM) and subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for statistical significance at p < 0.05 as well as Tukey’s multiple comparison test for differences between the various means using GraphPad Prism 4 (GraphPad Prism, version 4.0, San Diego, California, USA)

RESULTS

DISCUSSION