Abstract

TOXICITY ASSESSMENT: ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY EVAUATIONS OF THE STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PARSONSIA STRAMINEA IN MICE

James Kemelayefa*, Udeme Georgewill and Hope Kagbo

Abstract

Introduction: Every approved product for humans and animal’s consumption are deemed fit if it has passed through toxicological assessment and ascertained to be safe for consumption. This study is targeted at assessing the potential of deleterious effect of the stem bark of Parsonsia straminea ethanol extract (PSE). Methodology: Ethical consideration. The study proposal was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and approval identity, UPH/CEREMAD/REC/MM76/003 was given. Plant collection and crude drug extraction. The plant was sourced from the Wilberforce rain forest of Nigeria and herbarium identification number, NDUP/21/001 was given in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Nigeria. The collected plant was processed for ethanol extraction according to the method described by Trease and Evans. Design. The study was designed into single (acute toxicity) and repetitive (sub-acute toxicity) exposures in all study procedures. The acute were administered via oral (p.o) and parenteral (i.p) to ascertain safety and possible onset difference. The acute treatment doses are prepared as: 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 mg/kg and the sub-acute, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg treatment for 15 days plus control group in the respective phases, acute & sub-acute (n=6), Lorke method, hematology, biochemical and histology. Result. LD50 value of the parenteral route of exposure proves slightly toxic. Hematology, biochemical and histology showed little or none abnormality in the fifteen (15) days of exposure/administration. Conclusion: Result suggests no toxicity threat within the duration of the study, 15 days.

Keywords: Parsonsia straminea, LD50, Lorke, hematology, biochemical and histology.