Sub-acute toxicity of Caladium bicolor (Aiton) leaf extract in Wistar rats

Abstract

Herbal medicinal plants constitute an integral component of plant biodiversity whose application for therapeutic purposes has been a common practice since antiquity. However, studies have reported tissue pathologies following exposure to herbal medicinal plants or extracts. This study was carried out to assess the possible pathological effects of sub-acute exposure of methanol extract of Caladium bicolor on the hepatic histomorphology of experimental Wistar rats. Twenty four Wistar rats were divided into four groups A-D. Group A was administered with distilled water (2 ml/kg b.w) and groups B-D administered with 100 ml/kg, 200ml/kg and 300ml/kg b.w. of the extract respectively for twenty eight days. The bodyweight of experimental animals was recorded at regular intervals during the study period. After the treatment period, hepatic tissue was harvested, weighed and processed for histopathological study. The results showed that exposure to the extract causes significant (p<0.05) body and organ weight reduction, a significant increase in serum level of ALT and AST as well as prominent hepatic histopathological changes such as inflammation, necrosis and steatosis. Sub-acute exposure to methanol extract of C. bicolor thereby causes dose-independent hepatopathy in experimental animals. Hence, its application for therapeutic purposes needs to be re-evaluated and preferably discontinued to avoid these associated hepatic tissue pathologies.

Evaluation of the Hepatic effects of Caladium hortulanum Leaf Extract on Wistar Albino Rats

“…Results were normal in the short term but with prolonged use, changes in liver histology were seen irrespective of the dose given. This is similar to results from the research by [12] There is a strong erroneous belief in Nigeria that most illnesses are caused by infections. Thus, caladium plant plays a prominent role in the prescriptions of most herbalists, irrespective of what is being treated [14].…”

Phytochemical Profiling of Basella alba Using Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

“…1,2 The therapeutic activities of medicinal plants, which could be associated with some or the whole parts of the plants, are usually determined by the constituent bioactive compounds referred to as phytochemicals. 3,4 In other words, phytochemicals are secondary metabolites derived from the medicinal plants which can be applied for the treatment of pathologies based on their synergistic, additive or individual mechanisms of action. 4,5 Phytochemical screening of medicinal plants has identified constituents like flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids and phenols which are applied for diverse therapeutic activities.…”