Author(s): Johnson O Oladele, Boyede D Olowookere, Oyedotun M Oyeleke* and Oluwaseun T Oladele
Background: Plants like herbs has been extensively used for different kinds of nutritional and medicinal purposes, however, scientific studies has shown that these medicinal plants may have deleterious effects on some vital organs of the body if not taken at the recommended doses. Thus, there is a need for safety evaluation of these plants to ascertain their actions on organ’s physiological functions. This present study evaluates the effects of ethanol seed extract of Picralima nitida on the haematological examines and some enzymes activities in the serum of albino rats. Twenty-five rats were equally randomized into five groups. Group A (control) received distilled water while graded doses (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight) of ethanol seed extract of Picralima nitida were administered to rats in groups B, C, D and E respectively for 14 days. Haematological studies were carried out on the rats’ blood samples while concentrations of total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, and creatinine were measured in the serum.
Results: Result obtained revealed that treatment of rats with various graded doses of ethanol seed extract of Picralima nitida caused marked increase in urea and creatine compared to the control. Rats treated with 150 and 200mg/kg bw of the extract showed marked elevation in serum levels of the enzymes suggesting that the extract may have adverse effects at this dose. There was also a marked elevation in serum electrolytes of rats treated with 150 and 200mg/kg bw of the extract. Rats treated with low concentrations (50 and 100 mg/kg bw) of the extract demonstrated no marked differences or alteration in haematological parameters, protein profile and enzyme activities in the serum.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that consumption of ethanol seed extract of Picralima nitida as a therapeutic treatment is nontoxic at lower dose. However, if taken at high doses, the extract might be detrimental to some vital organs and systems.
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