Effect of Ninety-day Repeated Adiministration of Leaf Extract of Solanum anomalum on Rats

Abstract

The leaves and fruits of Solanum anomalum Thonn. ex Schumach are used locally for the treatment of pains, fever and malaria among others. Effect of 90-day repeated administration of S. anomalum leaf extract on rats was investigated. Oral administration of the leaf extract (70, 140 and 210 mg/kg) to rats (male and female) was carried out daily for 90 days and the rats were sacrificed after being anaesthesized with light diethyl ether at the completion of the administration. Oral treatment of rats subchronically with S. anomalum leaf extract had no significant (p>0.05) effect on rats’ body weights, hemoglobin concentration, WBC, RBC, platelets counts, percentages of PCV and eosinophils relative to control. However, percentages of neutrophils, monocytes and basophils were elevated significantly (p <0.05-0.01) at the highest dose (210 mg/kg), while lymphocytes percentage was reduced. The leaf extract had no significant (p>0.05) effect on bleeding and clotting times relative to control.  The leaf extract non dose-dependently caused significant (p<0.05) lowering of ALT, AST and ALP levels. However, total and direct bilirubin levels were elevated significantly (p<0.01-0.001) only at raised leaf extract’ doses (140 and 210 mg/kg). The leaf extract exerted no significant (p>0.05) changes on uric acid, bicarbonate, chloride, potassium and sodium levels, but lowered urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, VLDL and LDL levels of rats significantly (p<0.05) relative to control. There was no observable distortion of heart, testis and spleen histologies. Distortion in the histology of livers, kidneys, ovaries and brains of rats were observed at raised extract doses (140 and 210 mg/kg). High doses of the leaf extract should be avoided to prevent serious toxic effects.