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Toxicological study on methanol root bark extract of Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae) in Wistar rats

View ORCID ProfileMiriam Watafua, Jane I. Ejiofor, Aminu Musa, View ORCID ProfileMubarak Hussaini Ahmad
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.24.497563
Miriam Watafua
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
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  • ORCID record for Miriam Watafua
  • For correspondence: miriamwatafua@gmail.com mubarakhussainiahmad2021@gmail.com
Jane I. Ejiofor
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
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Aminu Musa
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
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Mubarak Hussaini Ahmad
2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
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  • ORCID record for Mubarak Hussaini Ahmad
  • For correspondence: miriamwatafua@gmail.com mubarakhussainiahmad2021@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background The plant Acacia sieberiana belongs to the family Fabaceae. It has been used in ethnomedical practice to manage bleeding, rheumatism, pain, pyrexia, kidney diseases, gastrointestinal problems, parasitic and infectious diseases, hepatitis, cough, epilepsy, mouth ulcer and many more. Phytochemical compounds such as ellagic acid, quercetin, isoferulic acid, gallic acid, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, glucoside dihydroacacipetalin, acacipetalin and many others were isolated from Acacia sieberiana. Previous pharmacological investigations have reported that the plant has anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal and antitrypanosomal effects. Despite the therapeutic properties of this plant, no safety information is available in the literature. Hence, this work intends to investigate the sub-acute toxicity effects of Acacia sieberiana root bark extract (ASE). The phytochemical and oral median lethal dose (LD50) evaluations on the ASE were done in line with the standard protocols. The sub-acute toxic effects of the ASE (250, 750, and 1,500 mg/kg) were investigated following administration of the ASE daily for 28-consecutive days based on the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 407 protocols in rats. The weekly body weights were monitored and the rats were euthanized on the 29th day. The blood samples from the animals were obtained for biochemical and haematological determinations. The liver, kidney, lung and heart were removed for histological investigations.

Results The ASE revealed triterpenes, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The oral LD50 values was >5,000 mg/kg. The ASE remarkably (p<0.05) declined the body weight of the rats in consideration to the control categories. There was also a remarkable (p<0.05) elevation in ALP, urea and lymphocytes. The cardiac histology revealed no abnormalities. However, the liver produced dose-dependent hepatocellular necrosis and vacuolations. Besides, lymphocyte hyperplasia and glomerular necrosis were observed in the kidneys and alveolar congestion in the lungs.

Conclusions The ASE is relatively non-toxic on acute administration. In contrast, it could pose slight hepatic and renal toxicity on sub-acute administration.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Footnotes

  • Email: miriamwatafua{at}unimaid.edu.ng, miriamwatafua{at}gmail.com

  • Email: Aminuwhiz{at}gmail.com

  • Email: mubarakhussainiahmad2021{at}gmail.com

  • List of abbreviations

    ABU
    Ahmadu Bello University
    ABUCAUC
    ABU Ethical Committee on Animal Use and Care Research Policy
    ALP
    Alkaline phosphatase
    ALT
    Alanine transaminase
    ALT
    Aspartate transaminase
    ANOVA
    One-way analysis of variance
    ARRIVE
    Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments
    ASE
    Acacia sieberiana extract
    D/W
    Distilled water
    EDTA
    Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
    H&E
    Haematoxylin and eosin
    HB
    Hemoglobin
    LD50
    Median lethal dose
    OECD
    Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development
    RBC
    Red blood cell
    SEM
    Standard error of mean
    WBC
    White blood cell
  • Copyright 
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    Posted June 28, 2022.
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    Toxicological study on methanol root bark extract of Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae) in Wistar rats
    Miriam Watafua, Jane I. Ejiofor, Aminu Musa, Mubarak Hussaini Ahmad
    bioRxiv 2022.06.24.497563; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.24.497563
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    Toxicological study on methanol root bark extract of Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae) in Wistar rats
    Miriam Watafua, Jane I. Ejiofor, Aminu Musa, Mubarak Hussaini Ahmad
    bioRxiv 2022.06.24.497563; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.24.497563

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