Assessment of acute and sub-chronic toxicological effects of neocarya macrophylla seed cake on wistar rats

The acute and sub-chronic toxicological effect of Neocarya macrophylla seed cake (NMSC) on wistar rats were investigated in a view to determine its suitability as an additive, food ingredient or nutrient supplement in human diet. The proximate analysis of NMSC showed that it had high protein and crude fibre values of 56.04±0.00 % and 7.41±0.01 % but low carbohydrate and ash contents of 13.19±0.49 % and 6.79±0.02 %respectively. The result of the phytochemical analysis revealed that NMSC contained tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Forty wistar rats with an average weight between 40-60 g were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments and fed with commercial feed (group I) and 0 %, 10 % and 20 % of NMSC diet for groups II to IV respectively for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and hematological parameters, plasma biochemical parameters and histopathological examination were carried out. The rats, when monitored weekly had good physical appearance and neither mortality nor any sign of acute and sub-chronic toxicity was recorded throughout the experimental period. There was no significant difference between most of the hematological parameters of test group rats when compared with those of the control groups. Histopathological analysis of the organs of the test rats showed no visible lesion in both the kidney and heart. The liver of the rats fed with 10 % diet had no visible lesions but there was a mild diffuse hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes at 20 % inclusion. NMSC seemed to have potential of being used as feed supplement. Keyword: Neocarya macrophylla, seed cake toxicity, haematological parameters, biochemical parameters Received: 15.09.2017 Reviewed: 26.11.2017 Accepted: 13.12.2017