Antimicrobial evaluation, acute and subchronic toxicity studies of Leone Bitters, a Nigerian polyherbal formulation, in rodents.

Abstract

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.

Evaluation of Toxicological Potential of Methanolic Extract of Chromolaena odorata found in the Western Ghats of Indian Subcontinent Orally in Mice

“…The results of the present study are highly contradictory to the studies conducted by Ogbonnia et al, 2010. They had reported an LD 50 value of 16.5 g/kg body weight in mice for the plant C. odorata that was abundant in Nigeria.…”

“…The plant also possessed antibacterial, astringent, antioxidant, antipyretic and diuretic activities (Caceres et al, 1995;Gopinath et al, 2009). Besides, the hydroalcoholic extract of C. odorata was reported to possess hypoglycaemic activity and thereby reducing the cardiovascular risks (Ogbonnia et al, 2010). Additionally, the aqueous extract of leaves of C. odorata also protected against the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, as well as the dyslipidemic conditions that characterized obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus ( Jude and Catherine, 2011).…”

Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Extract of Euphorbia hirta-Honey Mixture in Albino Rats

“…In developing countries the usage of herbal medicines by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diseases remains the main stay of health care system and is gaining increasing popularity especially among the rural populace in the developing countries [6]. The surge in the use of herbal medicine in modern day as alternative medicine has led to increase in demands of herbal drugs.…”

Yoyo Bitters, a polyherbal formulation influenced some biochemical parameters in Wistar rats

“…Moreover, parallel with recent increasing interest in alternative/herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of various illnesses, there is a growing concern about the safety of herbal medications (1,8) . In rural communities, the exclusive use of herbal drugs, prepared and dispensed by herbalists without formal training, for the treatment of diseases is still very common thus requiring that experimental screening methods be established to ascertain the safety and effi cacy of these herbal products (9,10) . Yoyo Bitters is a coded polyherbal formulation produced and marketed in Nigeria by Abllat Company Limited.…”