TOXICITY STUDIES OF THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF RANDIA NILOTICA STAPF. IN RATS

📄 Project Abstract

The use of medicinal plant extracts to maintain health, prevent or cure various diseases is known since ancient times. However, most times, there is little or no knowledge of the associated possible toxic injuries on vital organs morphology or functions from the use of such plants in whole or parts. Randia nilotica had long been known and used traditionally for various diseases, with no information on its toxicity profile. This study aims at evaluating the ethanolic stem bark extract of the plant for acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicities. Three groups of animals were treated with extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg daily) and a fourth one with distilled water for 28 and 90 days. Blood samples were collected at the end of treatment periods and used for biochemical and haematological analysis. The brain, heart, kidney, liver and spleen of all the rats in each group were also isolated and weighed prior to fixing in 10% buffered formalin and Bouins fluid (brain only) for histopathological...