Abstract
Introduction
Picralima nitida is a seed bearing tree whose dried seeds are used in traditional medicine throughout West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. The seeds are crushed and taken orally for the treatment of malaria, diarrhoea, pain, hypertension, jaundice, dysmenorrheal, and gastrointestinal disorders. There is paucity of data on the toxicity and safety profile of Picralima nitida, thus the need for this study. Acute toxicity study was carried out on Picralima nitida aqueous and 80% ethanolic extract in order to determine its acute toxicity and LD 50 .
Methods
Phytochemical analysis was carried out on Picralima nitida to identify its active phytochemical constituents both qualitatively and quantitatively. Acute oral toxicity tests were done using female Swiss albino mice that weighed 20-23g following the OECD methods. Fixed doses of 300mg/kg, 2000mg/kg and 5000mg/kg of Picralima nitida aqueous and 80% ethanolic extracts were administered to the animals once and then observed for 14days. The control group received distilled water only ad libitum. At the end of the 14days, the animals were sacrificed and
analyzed for histopathological changes.
Results The LD 50 of the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Picralima nitida were found to be ≥2000mg/kg. The heart of the animals that received only distilled water, and those that received 300mg/kg, 2000mg/kg, and 5000mg/kg of Picralima nitida aqueous extract had no histopathological
damages. The photomicrograph of the liver, kidneys, lungs of the untreated and treated groups of aqueous extract show some histopathological alterations. While, the histologic sections of the heart, liver, kidney, and lungs of the animals that received 2000mg/kg and 5000mg/kg of
ethanolic extract of Picralima nitida had some histopathological changes. Similar injuries were also seen in the untreated group.
Conclusion: The phytochemical screening revealed that Picralima nitida contains important antioxidants and other phytochemicals with various health benefits. While the acute toxicity assessment of the aqueous and 80% ethanolic extracts of Picralima nitida indicate that Picralima nitida is safe.
Keywords