Antimicrobial and Toxicity Studies on Holisa Herbal Formulation doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i5.30

Abstract

Herbal plants have been reported to play crucial role in enhancing human health. The study evaluated the antimicrobial property, acute and sub-chronic toxicological effects of Holisa herbal formulation consisting of Vernonia amygdalina, Rorippa  adgasceriensis, and Securinega virosa plants using biochemical and histopathological indices. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats of five groups (A-E) of 6 animals each were used. Animals in group A were given distilled water while those in B, C, D, and E received 20, 40, 60, 100 mL/kg of body weight of the formulation for 28 days. The zone of inhibition was determined with agar well diffusion method using seven bacterial and three fungal isolates. The acute toxicity was carried out with the use of Swiss mice which were observed for 72 hours. The zone of inhibition observed on both the bacterial and fungal culture media was very minimal (6-9 mm). Significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight was observed in groups B, C, and E and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in group D when compared to the control. Alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, creatinine, and total protein were increased significantly (p<0.05), while aspartate aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferases, albumin did not show significant differences. The histopathology conducted showed that the formulation showed congestion in the blood vessels and vascular constriction on the liver and kidney tissues respectively. The results revealed that lower doses of Holisa herbal formulation may not have any adverse effect on the liver and kidney tissues but high doses elicited toxicity.