Toxicological Evaluation of Chronic Administration of Zea mays Husk Extract on Female Rats

Zea mays L (Family-Poaceae) husk locally use as a remedy for various diseases was investigated for effect on hematological indices, liver and kidney functions as well as lipid profile and organs histologies after chronic administration of Zea mays ethanol husk extract to female Wistar rats. The female rats were orally treated with husk extract (187, 374 and 561 mg/kg body weight) daily for 100 days and thereafter sacrificed under light diethyl ether anesthesia at the completion of the treatment period. The husk extract exerted insignificant (p>0.05) alteration of body and organ weights of rats relative to control. The blood indices of the rats were insignificantly (p>0.05) altered, but significant (p<0.001) reduction of bleeding time of rats treated with 374 mg/kg of the extract was recorded. No significant (p>0.05) effect on liver function parameters (total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and combined bilirubin) of treated rats was recorded except significant (p<0.001) non-dose dependent increase in total bilirubin level only at middle dose (374 mg/kg) of the extract. Also, insignificant (p>0.05) effect on urea, creatinine, bicarbonate, potassium and sodium levels and a significant (p<0.001) increase in chloride level of the female rats at the highest dose of extract (561 mg/kg) were observed. The extract did not alter the rat’s lipid profile parameters except significant (p<0.05 - 0.001) lowering of total cholesterol levels of rats treated with extract (187 mg/kg) as well as VLDL levels of rats treated with low and highest dose (187 and 561 mg/kg) relative to control. The husk extract exerted mild to moderate effect on the histologies of brains, hearts, livers and kidneys of rats with serious effect on the ovary. The extract should be taken with caution and high dose should be avoided.