Phytochemical Profile and Haematological Indices in Toxicity Studies of Maerua angolensis and Gliricidia sepium Leaves Extracts

Abstract

Background: In phytomedicine, plant actions and activities are tied to their molecular build up. Exploiting plant phytochemistry is, therefore, a pointer to its likely medicinal activities. We studied the phytochemical profile of G. sepium and M. angolensis and their haematological interference in Wistar rats during acute and subacute toxicity testing. Methodology: Standard methods were used for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluation. 100g each of powdered leaves of Gliricidia sepium and Maerua angolensis were soaked in 100ml of Petroleum ether and 70% Ethanol respectively for 48 hours at room temperature. The filtered solutions were concentrated up to 50 ml and were used for the qualitative phytochemistry. Eighteen female rats were used for acute toxicity (limit test). They were divided into three groups (n=6). 2000mg and 5000mg of extract per kg body weight was administered orally to groups 2 and 3 respectively and monitored for 14 days. Group 1 was administered with 0.25ml of distilled water to serve as the control. Fifty Wistar rats (25 males and 25 females) were divided into five groups of equal sexes (n=10) for the subacute testing. Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were respectively administered with 125, 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg body weight of extract orally for 28 days. Group 1 was treated as done for the acute study. Animals were anaesthetized and EDTA blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture and processed using Sysmex Xn 1000 auto-analyzer. Results: Both G. sepium and M. angolensis leaves extracts showed the presence of varieties of medicinal phytochemicals. Seasonal variations have little effect on their quantities and plants harvested during the wet season housed more phytochemicals than that of the dry season. The haematological profiles were not affected during the acute and subacute toxicity evaluation. G. sepium rather boosted the blood production by increasing the population of the circulating erythrocytes and red cell indices. Conclusion: G. sepium and M. angolensis are candidate plants for medicinal phytochemicals, both extracts did not portray danger to the system and G. sepium extract could even be used for haematoprotective functions.