Pharmacotoxicological Assessment of Alchornea Cordifolia Leaf Extract
| dc.contributor.author | Oppong, Emmanuel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-08-18T23:01:54Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-04-19T12:12:24Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-08-18T23:01:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-04-19T12:12:24Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008-08-18 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy, 2008 | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | There are several reports on the biological actions of Aichomea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) MQII.Arg (Euphorbiaceae) but little knowledge on the potential toxicity of the plant The constituents of the alcoholic leaf extract of Aichomea cordifolia were verified and the total leaf extract was tested on rats and mice for possible toxicity. The effect of Aichomea cordifolia was also studied on the guinea pig ileum. The presence of tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, anthracene glycosides and saponins was confirmed but alkaloids and phytosterols were not detected in the ' extract. The crude extract (0.5 mg/ml - 4 mg/mi) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions on the isolated guinea- pig ileum. The antagonism appeared competitive as there was a rightward shift of the concentration-response curves with no significant depression of the maximum response. Daily administration of the crude extract (250 - 2000 mg/kg) for two weeks did not cause any significant changes in haematological parameters in both rats and mice. However, there was a dose-dependent increase (P< 0.05) in the number of neutrophils in rats. Lymphocyte numbers in treated rats decreased. There were no significant changes in the relative organ weights of treated rats or mice compared to control. Hepatic function, renal function and total proteins were not affected by the treatment. Histopathologicai examination of the liver and kidney did not show changes in organ architecture at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg. However, early signs of liver injury were observed in rats treated with 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg. This observation was not accompanied by loss of hepatic function as observed in the pentobarbitone sleeping time experiment. The study has shown that the alcoholic extract of Aichomea cordifolia is relatively non toxic in both rats and mice, but the liver damage observed calls for caution in the use of Aichomea cordifolia for long periods especially at high doses. The inhibitory effects of Aichomea cordifolia on acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions of the isolated guinea pig ileum may partly explain the usefulness of Aichomea cordiflia in the management of gastrointestinal disorders. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | KNUST | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/998 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | 4933; | |
| dc.title | Pharmacotoxicological Assessment of Alchornea Cordifolia Leaf Extract | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
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