Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic root extract of Morinda lucida (L.) Benth. (Rubiaceae) in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: There are fairly extensive data on the trado-medical, phytochemistry, biological and pharmacological activity of Morinda lucida. Yet, there is dearth of information on the safety/toxicity of the root extract. Materials and Methods: The present study investigated the toxicological effect of the ethanolic root extract of the plant at 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight on haematology, kidney and liver function parameters in Wistar rats for 21 days. Results: The extract did not exhibit any signifi cant (P < 0.05) effect on red blood cells (RBCs), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell width coeffi cient of variation (RDW-CV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, sodium, potassium and calcium at all doses tested. The extract caused a signifi cant reduction in the serum levels of white blood cells, platelets, alkaline phosphate (ALP), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). At lower doses, the extract increased the aspertate aminotransferase (AST), but at higher doses the parameter was signifi cantly reduced. Similarly, the extract at all doses led to signifi cant increase in the body and absolute organ weights of the animals but no effect on the liver, kidney, heart and lungs body-weight ratios. Conclusion: Although, the extract produced some alterations in the parameters investigated, it is unlikely to be haematotoxic, hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic if consumed repeatedly at the doses investigated in this study.