Abstract

Ethno pharmacological relevance: People in Nigeria and all over the world, use this plant preparations, for various therapeutic purposes, in folklore medicine. The aim of the study is to obtain the sub chronic nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic information on this plant.
Aim of study: Obtain nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic information regarding traditional use of plants.
Materials and methods: 32 male rats were grouped into 4 groups i.e. Group I (had no treatment), Group II (200 mg/kg body weight of extract), Group III (400 mg/kg body weight of extract) and Group IV (800 mg/kg body weight of extract) for a period of 28 days. On 14th and 28th day, three rats were sacrificed in each group and blood samples were obtained for kidney and hepatic function tests.
Result: It showed that there was a significant increase in weight, p<0.01 in Group III, but p<0.05. There was no significant effect on the kidney function parameters except for Urea at 200 and 400 mg/kg. Liver function tests, showed that ALP, AST and ALT were significantly reduced, p<0.001 compared to the control
Conclusion: It is possible therefore, to infer that the sub chronic toxicity study of X. aethiopica stem on liver and kidney has a toxic potential at high doses as it showed significant differences on some biomarkers of the kidney and liver functions. Moreover, the photomicrograph showed some slight histological alterations in both organs.