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The acute toxicity study of the leaves of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (SJ) showed no toxicity when administered up to 11g/kg body weight orally while intra-peritoneal (IP) administration produced dose dependent mortality with median acute toxicity (LD 50 ) of 1445.4 mg/kg. In sub-chronic study, the extract administered for a period of 120 days showed no mortality or morbidity. There was significant weight gain in both treated and control groups while gross examination of internal organs revealed no detectable inflammation. The blood glucose and total cholesterol levels demonstrated dose dependent decrease while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLcholesterol) increased with dose. In the liver function test, there were no significant (p>0.05) changes in alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspertate amino transferase (AST) in the extract treated animals. The renal function profile, serum creatinine and urea levels were not significantly altered compared to the control. In haematological evaluation, significant increase (p<0.05) in red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) were observed in the treated animals compared to the control while mean corpuscular (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and white blood cells (WBC) showed no significant changes. The result therefore suggests that the leaves extract was potentially safe for consumption orally even at chronic administration.

This study evaluated acute and sub-chronic toxicities in rodents and microbial purity of a polyherbal preparation, Leon Bitters, prepared with Gongronema latifolia (climbing stem), Cocos nucifera (coconut) roots and Parinari curatellifolia seeds. Microbial purity was evaluated on some bacterial and fungal organisms using appropriate diagnostic media. Toxicity of the polyherbal preparation was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by administering to the animals oral graded doses of the lyophilized drug in the ranges of 1.0 g/kg to 20.0 g/kg body weight and observed continuously for the first 4h and hourly for the next 12 h, then 6 hourly for 56 h (72 h, acute toxicity). Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of the lyophilized drug for 30 days and the effects of the drug on some tissues-heart, liver, kidney and testes-were microscopically examined. Also the effects on the biochemical and haematological parameters were evaluated (sub-chronic toxicity model). No zone of inhibition was observed on either the bacterial culture media or the fungal culture media. The median acute toxicity value (LD 50) of the polyherbal medicine was determined to be 7.2 g/kg body weight. No significant increase in the body weight was observed in the groups treated with the drug compared to the control. There was significant increase (p≤ 0.05) in creatinine level while aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) showed no appreciable increase. The drug significantly reduced (p≤0.05) triglyceride (TG) level while low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol level was not altered, but led to increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in the treated groups compared to the control. There was no significant change in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in all the treated animals compared to the control. The study showed that the drug exhibited hypolipidemic activity and good reducing effects on cardiovascular factors. However, a long term use may be harmful to the testes, a male reproductive organ.

This study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemical profile, acute and subchronic toxicity of C.ordorata leaves extract in rodents used in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Toxicity of the preparation was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by administering orally graded doses of the extract in the ranges of 1.0g to 20.0g /kg body weight to the animals and observed continuously for the first 4h and hourly for the next 12h, then 6 hourly for 56h (72h, acute toxicity). Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of the extract for 35 days and the effects on some tissues -heart, liver and testes -were histologically examined. Also the effects on the biochemical and haematological parameters were evaluated.The median acute toxicity value (LD 50 ) of the extract was determined to be 16.50g /kg body weight. The extract significantly reduced (p≤0.05) plasma glucose and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, but increased high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in the treated groups compared to the control. Significant increase in the body weight was observed except in the group treated with the highest dose that experienced decrease in weight after twenty days of treatment. Aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and creatinine levels were significantly increased while significant decrease in alanine aminotransferases (ALT) level, calcium and phosphorus levels were observed in all the treated groups. The high LD 50 value (16.50g/kg body weight) of the extract implies that it could be safe in one dose treatment. The study also revealed that the extract had good hypoglycemic effects and favourable reducing effects on the cardiovascular risk factors. However it was observed that long term use especially at a high dose could have deleterious effect on the heart

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. GOM designed the study, performed the statistical and histological analysis. He equally wrote the first draft of the manuscript and undertook the final editing of the paper. SOO wrote the protocol and part of the draft, KJO carried out most of the literature searches while PIA handled the tissue processing for histology. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Osiagwu (2017) Histomorphological changes in induced benign prostatic hyperplasia with exogenous testosterone and estradiol in adult male rats treated with aqueous ethanol extract of Secamoneafzelii, Egyptian

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