Acute and Sub-Acute Effects of Morinda lucida Benth Stem Bark Methanolic Extract on Blood Cytometry, Blood Chemistry and Histoarchitecture of Wistar Rats

Jeremiah J. Oloche^1,2*, Adedayo F. Asalu¹, Grace O. Gbotosho^1,3,4

¹Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

²Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

³Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

⁴Malaria Research Laboratories, Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Corresponding Author: [email protected] ; Tel: +2348 034 113 486

Recieved Date: 28 January 2022; Accepted Date: 14 April 2022; Published Date: 03 May

Citation: Oloche JJ, Asalu AF, Gbotosho GO. Acute and Sub-Acute Effects of Morinda lucida Benth Stem Bark Methanolic Extract on Blood Cytometry, Blood Chemistry and Histoarchitecture of Wistar Rats. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2022; 6(4): 628-636. http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v6i4.26

Copyright:

© 2022 Oloche et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Visit for more related articles at  Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research

ABSTRACT

Morinda lucida Benth is a valuable plant used in traditional medicine for the management of diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and other illnesses. The study evaluated the safety of Morinda lucida stem bark methanol extract (MLSE) in Wistar rats. The stem part was air-dried and extracted by maceration in 70% methanol. Phytochemical compounds in MLSE were determined by qualitative methods and Gas chromatography/Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The single oral dose and repeated 28-day oral toxicity were employed for acute and sub-acute toxicity studies respectively. Signs of convulsion, sedation, lacrimation, changes in fur, respiratory distress and mortality were recorded. Alterations in haematological, biochemical and histoarchitectural indices were investigated. Phytochemical analysis on MLSE confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, phytosterols and glycosides. Hexadecenoic acid, oleic acid and its derivatives and two anthraquinones, digitolutein and rubiadin 1-methyl ether were detected. There was no mortality at doses ?5000 mg/kg of MLSE. Treatment with MLSE significantly increased (p<0.05) percentage mean body weight gain in rats. However, percentage mean relative weight of the liver, kidney, heart of the rats that received MLSE were not significantly different (p>0.05), compared to control. MLSE did not adversely affect haematological parameters investigated. There was no derangement in fasting blood sugar, serum electrolytes, biochemical parameters and liver enzymes of rats treated with MLSE. Histopathology of target organs showed no relevant anatomical change. The findings indicate that Morinda lucida stem bark methanol extract was non-toxic at oral doses ?5000 mg/kg and thus represents a potentially valuable product for further investigations.