Safety Evaluation of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Lonchocarpus cynanecens on the Liver of Wistar Rat

Abstract

This study was designed to safety evaluate the methanolic leaf extract of Lonchocarpus cyanescens on the liver of the Wistar rat.  A total of 28 Wistar albino rats were used for the study. They were divided into seven groups, consisting of four rats each and were administered graded doses of the methanolic leaf extracts of 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg 2000 mg/kg 3500 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg body weight, orally for 28 days while group one which serve has the control was administered distilled water. Rats had free access to feed and water ad libitum. The administration of 200 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg methanolic leaf extract showed no observable significant difference (P>0.05) in ALT, ALP, GGT activities, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin concentrations. Administration of 3500 mg/kg of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increases the activity of ALT and GGT.  AST activity was significantly (P<0.05) decreased when compared to control at dose 3500 mg/kg; however, administration of 2000 mg/kg of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the activity of AST. Administration of 500 mg/kg of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increases the concentration of total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in ALP and albumin across the graded doses administered to the rats. The results from this study, therefore, suggest that some doses of the extract might be safe while others might induce liver damage under sub-chronic toxicity.