Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Extract of Euphorbia hirta-Honey Mixture in Albino Rats

Abstract

The Igbo people of the South-eastern part of Nigeria claims that a combination of Ehirta and honey has therapeutic effect for Ulcer. The study was designed to scientifically evaluate the phytochemical composition of E. hirta and the safety of the phytomedicine. Nine hundred gram (900 g) of E. hirta gave an average yield of 49.05 g of the extract and this gave percentage yield of 5.45% when extracted with continuous extraction process of Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical screenings of E. hirta showed that the extract contains alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Flavonoids and Unsaturated steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The phytomedicine of E. hirta combined with did not produce significant changes in the blood biochemical and haematological parameters. Though slight reductions were witnessed in blood ALT the phytomedicine drugs has no significant effect on the liver and other vital organs like the kidney, the heart, spleen, intestine and the brain except the lungs that witnessed slight alveoli congestion. The study revealed that E. hirta combined with honey is safe for consumption