Phytochemical and Toxicity Study of the Root of Boscia senegalensis Plant: With Indepth Testicular Histopathological Screening

Abstract

Beyond the efficacy of herbal remedies, there is always a serious concern for safety. A safety study was carried out on the root of Boscia senegalensis (per) plant prior to its intended use in a bioassay. The root of Boscia senegalensis per (capparaceae) was collected from Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State in August, 2011 and pulverized into a dry powder. About 700 g of the powder was extracted with methanol for six hours using Soxhlet extractor. The phytochemical study of the plant material was conducted and the median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was determined in rats orally according to modified Lorkes’ method. A sub-acute toxicity study was carried out with male albino rats dosed 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weights daily for 28 days of the extract. The animals were sacrificed on the 29th day and blood collected through cardiac puncture for hematological and biochemical screening for renal and hepatic status. The testes, liver and kidney were collected and stored in 10 percent formalin for histopathological examination. The phytochemicals present in the root alcoholic extract of Boscia senegalensis were alkaloids, phytosteroids and triterpenoids in appreciable quantity, saponins anthraquinones and tannins in moderate quantity while flavonoids were absent. The LD50 is equal to or above 5000 mg/kg body weight. Supportive of the safety profile of the plant, a 28-day oral administration of the extract produced no significant effect on the creatinine, albumin, total protein concentration at all doses and there was a significant reduction in liver enzymes. The hematological evaluation showed that the extract on a prolonged administration had no significant effect. The histology of the kidney and liver were normal. There was a significant increase in the relative weight of the testis, area of the interstitial space and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules when compared to the control group histologically. The plant root extract may be relatively safe (6000 mg/kg body weight) following oral administration in white albino rats and possesses testicular histopathological effect probably due to the presence of alkaloids saponins, triterpenoids and anthraquinones.