Animal Toxicological Studies of Agunmu Iba (Malaria Herbal Medicine)

Abstract

Malaria is a disease that kills millions of people worldwide every year and demographic studies tell us of the resilient or resistant nature of the malaria parasite to orthodox drugs. Agunmu iba is a herbal concoction made locally to cure or prevent malaria in Africa. Agunmu iba extract was investigated for its toxic effects in Wistar rats using liver and kidney functionality indicators. Thirty six albino rats weighing 200.08 ± 10.21g were assigned into six groups (A–F) of six animals each randomly. Test groups A–E animals were administered orally daily with 1 ml of the extract equivalent to 50 mg/kg body weight of the extract for a 15 duration with the control group receiving 1 ml of distilled water orally. On the 16th day, the animals were sacrificed. The extract decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the liver to about 80% loss. No consistent pattern was recorded in the kidney ALP activity and serum bilirubin level, the serum enzyme compared well (p>0.05) with the control value. Acid phosphatase activity of the tissues and serum of the animals showed no significant effect. The extract reduced urea, albumin and creatinine levels in the serum. These observed changes in biochemical parameters by the aqueous extract of Agunmu iba may have consequential effects on the normal functioning of the liver and kidney of the animals.