Abstract
Aim: To investigate the subchronic toxicity of graded doses of aqueous and ethanol extracts of D. guineense stem bark in rats. Materials and Methods: A total of seventy (70) rats (35 per extract) weighing 160 to 180 g (mean weight = 170 ± 10 g) were divided into seven (7) groups of five (5) rats each. Group I served as control, while rats in groups II – VII received graded doses of extract (200 – 5000 mg/kg body weight, bwt) for a duration of 28 days. Weight parameters, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level and histopathological assessment were carried out. Results: Percentage increases in body weights of rats treated with aqueous or ethanol extract of D. guineense stem bark were significantly reduced, when compared with control group (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in the corresponding relative organ weights and tissue MDA level, among the groups (p > 0.05). Similarly, the extracts did not significantly alter the normal architecture of the liver, but induced mild periportal lymphocytosis and kupffer cell activation. Conclusion: The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the medicinal plant stem bark did not elicit any deleterious effects on rat liver.
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