आईएसएसएन: 2161-0495
Mokennon Debebe, Mekbeb Afework, Eyasu Makonnen, AsfawDebella, Bekesho Geleta and Negero Gemeda
Albizia gummifera are plants found in Ethiopia that have different medicinal values.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of sub-chronic administered hydro-ethanolic (70%) seeds extract of Albizia gummiferain albino Wistar rats. The seeds of these plants were collected from different areas of Ethiopia. They were dried and crushed to powder and macerated with hydro-alcohol and placed in orbital shaker. The extract was then filtered through Whatman filter paper No.1 and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness by Rota vapor and further concentrated by water bath at 40ºC. The extract was packed in air tight brown glass bottles and kept in a refrigerator at 4ºC. The extract was then administered to rats at different doses to determine the LD 50 of the extract and at doses of 125 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for the sub-chronic toxicity study. The LD 50 of Albizzia gummifera were found as 4000 mg/kg and 3500 mg/kg, respectively. Statistically significant difference in body weight was observed in female rats in the 10th week at 250 mg/kg body weight of seeds extract of Albizia gummifera administered group and in the male rats at lowest dose during the 9th and 10th weeks of administration period for seeds extract of Millettia ferruginea.The seeds extract of Albizia gummifera statistically decreased (p ≤ 0.05) MCHin the male rats at both doses; MCHC at both 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg in the female rats; and MCH in the female rats at higher dose and increased RDW-CV in the male rats at both doses. It increased NEUT at the highest dose in both females and males. The seeds extract of Millettia ferruginea decreased (p ≤ 0.05) in the MCHC and MONO of female rats at the highest doses. ALP, ALT and urea were found significant in the female rats administered with 250 mg/kg of seeds extract. While, seeds extract of Albizia gummifera increased only urea in male rats at 250 mg/kg. Some histopathological changes in liver and kidney were also observed for both plants extracts. There were inflammations, congestions and focal hepatocellular necrosis of the liver tissue. The extracts also produced atrophyof the glomeruli of the kidney. The observed changes in both of the plant seeds extract might have resulted because of the presence of some bioactive ingredients in the extract. Therefore, the active ingredients which might be responsible for toxic insult should be researched with their mechanisms of actions.