Abstract

Chloroform extract of leaves of Ficus capensis previously defatted with n-hexane, a subject of an on-going research on the pharmacological basis for its use in Igala folk medicine for the typhoid fever therapy, was investigated for its in vivo toxicity in albino rats. The chloroform extracts were obtained by cold maceration, first defatted using n-hexane. Fifty-six healthy albino rats (174 ± 24 g) were randomized into seven groups of 8 animals (4 males, 4 females) each for the acute toxicity study. Sixty healthy albino rats (183 ± 39 g) were randomized into six groups of 10 animals (5 males, 5 females) each for the sub-chronic toxicity study. One group served as control while the other groups were administered with graduated doses of the extract. Animals that became moribund during the study and animals that survived the acute test period were sacrificed and necropsied. After every 7 days, 1 male and 1 female from each group of the sub-chronic toxicity test were sacrificed and necropsied. The animal organs were observed for physical signs of abrasions. The activities of marker enzymes such as serum aspartate transaminase, serum alanine transaminase and serum alkaline phosphatase, and total protein were determined using kits. The PCV was determined using the haematocrit capillary method. The median lethal concentration of Ficus capensis on albino rats was >5000 mg/kg body weight. There were no obvious signs of pharmacotoxicity in treated and control animals. There were no visible signs of abrasions or morphological changes in the organs of the treated animals in comparison to the control animals. Although the values of biochemical parameters obtained from treated animals differed significantly (p<0.05) from that of the control animals, all the values were within reference range. These results suggest that defatted chloroform extract of leaves of Ficus capensis does not provoke toxic response in rat models and may not be acutely or sub-chronically toxic in albino rats. 

Keywords: Ficus capensis; Acute toxicity; Sub-chronic toxicity; Igala; Folk mediciney