SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY PROFILE OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Aspilia africana (PERS) ADAMS IN MICE

Aspilia africana has been treasured in ethnopharmacology. However, there is a paucity of information on its relative safety. Hence, this study was undertaken to elucidate the sub-acute toxicity profile of the herb with the view to having a scientific validation of the use of this plant among the locals in this clime. A total of twelve mice were used and were divided into four groups of three mice. Group 1 was a normal control, while groups 2-4 received 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg bw of Aspilia africana for eight days. The results of the phytochemical analyses showed that reducing sugars, alkaloids, total phenolics, and flavonoids were significantly (P<0.05) higher than terpenoids, tannins, glycosides and steroids. This order was observed: steroids<glycosides<tannins<terpenoids0.05) increase in alanine aminotransferase activities of treatment groups 2-4 compared to the normal control. With respect to aspartate aminotransferase, a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity was seen in groups 2 and 4 compared to normal control, while group 3 showed a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in activity compared to group 1. Alkaline phosphatase showed a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in activities of groups 2-4 compared to group 1. In bilirubin levels, a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease was seen in conjugated bilirubin, while non–non-significant (p>0.05) differences were observed in the total bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin of treated groups compared to normal control. The sections of the liver presented in the microhistomorphology of group one showed that there was normal hepatic histomorphology. However, mild multifocal areas of leukocytic infiltrations were observed. On the other hand, the sections of the liver presented in groups two and three showed multifocal areas of hepatocellular necrosis and mild to moderate acute cell swelling involving the centrilobular and occasionally, the mid-zonal hepatocytes in the hepatic lobules. Also, the sections of the liver presented in group four demonstrated that there was normal hepatic histomorphology. However, mild to moderate leukocytic infiltration in the portal areas was observed. The above results, therefore, suggested relative safety of the sample with respect to the liver cells’ integrity, but a red flag of a possible toxicity to some major organs at this sub-acute level, though no death was recorded.