Subchronic toxcity study of Khaya senegalensis aqueous extract in rats

This study was carried out to investigate the sub chronic effects of oral administration of different doses: 100mg/kg, 400mg/kg, l600mg/kg, 6400mg/kg of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis in wistar rats. The rats were randomly separated to groups "A-G". The group "A" was considered as a non treated control. The other groups B, C, D and E respectively, were test groups and were treated with the extract. The biochemical and haematological parameters were assessed after 21 days of oral administration of the extract. The liver, kidney, pancreas, and heart of various experimental rats were harvested and preserved. The parenchymal tissues were fixed and using a microtome prepared to slides. Histopathological changes were observed using standard methods. There were no significant differences in white blood cell (WBC), Differential leucocytes count (DLC), haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and Red Blood Cell count (RBC) respectively. There was however a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the serum Alanine amino transferase (ALT) in groups B, C and D and also a significant (p<0.05) decrease in AST levels in group B and E. The blood glucose levels also decreased significantly (P<0.05) in groups concentration in groups C, D, and E. Histopathological examination showed moderate degenerative changes and congestions in the livers and kidneys and pancreas in all treated groups. This gave an insiglht on the effects of oral administration of an aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis on the haematological and biochemical parameters, with the related tissue pathology, in experimental wistar rats. Conclusion could be made that care should be taken in prolonged administration of high doses of aqueous extract of Khaya senegalensis man and animals.