Property | Value |
Name | Acute and Subchronic Toxicities of Ethanol Root Extract of Psidium guajava (myrtaceae) in Experimental Animals. |
Description | Research article:- Onyekwe N. G.1; Ilodigwe E. E.1; Ajaghaku D. L.1; Esimone C. O.2 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra state, Nigeria . 2Department of Pharmaceutical microbiology/ Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra state, Nigeria.
Abstract:- The acute and subchronic toxicities of the ethanol root extract of Psidium guajava, a popular Nigeria traditional aphrodisiac was investigated. For the acute toxicity study, 1000-5000mg/kg of the ethanol root extract were orally administered to rats and obvious toxic symptoms and mortality 24 hours post-administration of the extract were determined. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was determined. In subchronic study, 150-1200mg/kg of the extract were orally administered daily for 90 days. The food and water consumption, body weight changes, as well as haematological and biochemical parameters were determined periodically. The phytochemical constituents of the extract were also investigated. Phytochemical constituents revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. The estimated LD50 of the extract was 1352mg/kg. During the period of the study, the animals showed signs of anorexia, weakness and sluggishness and significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weight; and mortality from the group receiving the highest dose of the extract was observed. The effects on haemoglobin concentration, PCV and RBC were non-significant (p>0.05) but there was significant dose-time dependent elevation of the WBC counts. The extract caused significant elevation in serum liver enzymes, AST, ALT and ALP. Hepatic photomicrographs showed dose-time dependent toxicities Industrial Relevance: Impotence, weak libido and erectile dysfunction may require life-long management. In resource poor communities, aphrodisiac agents are not readily accessible. The use of medicinal plants especially Psidium guajava root is popular in Nigeria because it is readily available, cheap and relatively free from obvious adverse effects. The results of the resent study will enable the industry to produce from natural products an effective aphrodisiac that is affordable with little or no side effect.
Key words: P. guajave, toxicity, liver enzymes, haematological and histological indices. |
Filename | Onyekwe N . G et. al..pdf |
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Filetype | pdf (Mime Type: application/pdf) |
Creator | admin |
Created On: | 11/17/2011 00:00 |
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Last updated on | 12/20/2011 11:06 |
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