WEIGHT AND HEMATOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WISTAR RATS ADMINISTERED WITHOCHRATOXIN A AND AFLATOXIN B1 CONTAMINATED HERBAL MEDICINES

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mycotoxin contamination of herbal medicine preparations on the weight and hematological properties of Wistar rats. Five Wistar rats each weighing about 141 g were separately administered with two powdered herbal medicines, Agbo typhoid and Agbo rashes contaminated with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) respectively. Different amounts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 g) of the herbal medicine powders were administered to the rats by mixing with commercial feeds, while the liquid extracts (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05 μg/mL) obtained from the contaminated herbal powders were administered orally using oral cannulas. A total of 105 Wistar rats were used. The rats were weighed for a period of two weeks and assessed for hematological effects of the administered toxicants. Results showed that significant weight decline occurred in animals administered with the different mycotoxins, with highest weight loss (23.21 g) obtained in Wistar rats administered with 0.01 μg/mL of AFB1. Both AFB1-contaminated herbal medicines and AFB1 extracts from contaminated herbal medicines caused significant decreases in PCV and Hb levels, while OTA-contaminated herbal medicines and OTA extracts from contaminated herbal medicines also caused significant decreases in PCV, RBC and Hblevels when compared to the normal rats (P≤0.05). The findings of this study suggest the need to improve processing, handling, and storage of herbal medicines in order to prevent contamination with mycotoxigenic fungi which produce OTA and AFB1 capable of causing significant health challenges to consumers