Effects of methanolic leaf, bark and fruit extracts of Kigelia africana on haematology and erythrocyte membrane stability in rats

Abstract

The toxicity, haematological and erythrocyte membrane stabilizing effects of different parts of Kigelia africana were evaluated. The different parts namely bark, leaf and fruit were subjected to phytochemical tests and  flavonoids, saponnins, phlobatannin and tannins were found. Sub-acute toxicity study showed no adverse effect on erythrocytic indices at the doses tested for 28 days, Kigelia africana leaf (KAL) at 1000mg/kg caused  leucopaenia in the rats. In vitro, Kigelia africana bark and fruit were able to protect red cell membrane against heat and hypotonicity induced lysis. Oral acute toxicity assays did not show any mortality at 5 g/kg of the  plant extracts. The results indicated that the methanolic extracts of different plant parts K. africana had on adverse effect on haematology of rats at sub-acute dosing and is safe.Keywords: Erythrocyte membrane, Haematology, Kigelia africana, Phytochemistry, Toxicity