Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract from the aerial parts of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell. in rodents

Abstract

Context: Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub or climber, which is widely distributed in tropical area of Africa including Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. Various parts of the plant have been used in folk medicine for the management of pain, fever, anemia and paralysis

The aqueous leaf extract of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus muellerianus has been proven to possess anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Objective and Methods: The aim of this study is to determine the toxicological profile of the aqueous leaf extract of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus muellerianus after both a single and seven day administration schedule in mice and rats respectively.

Results: There was no lethality recorded during this study. Upon single administration of the extract, the animals treated with the doses of 100 - 300 mg kg^-1 did not exhibit any toxic signs however at higher doses (1000 - 5000 mg kg^-1), the mice displayed increased defecation and reduced grip strength as compared to untreated controls. In the sub-acute toxicity study, there were no significant changes recorded in the behavior, body or relative organ weights and hematological parameters of the rats which received 100 – 1000 mg kg^-1 of the extract. A decrease in creatinine level and an increase in urea concentration were observed but these effects were not dose dependent. Histopathological analyses of the liver, kidney and stomach also did not reveal significant extract-related changes.

Conclusion: The aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus muellerianus is safe in rodents and more importantly, it does not affect the integrity and the kidneys like some of the conventional analgesics.