Effect of Aqueous and Ethanol Leaf Extracts of Landolphia dulcis on Haematology and Histopathology of Swiss Albino Mice

Aims: To evaluate toxicological effect of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Landolphia dulcis on haematology, liver and kidney physiological changes in mice.
Study Design: In-vivo.
Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between April 2012 and July, 2012.
Methodology: Thirty five mice of both sexes weighing between 23-35 g were divided into seven groups of five per group after six hour fasting period. The mice in group 1 received normal saline (10 ml/kg oral) while the mice in groups 2-6 received oral doses of the extracts (200, 400, 800, 1000, 2000 mg/kg respectively) for 14 days on a single daily dose. The animals were observed for obvious toxic symptoms and mortality in each group within 24 hr.
Results: Though slight differences in values were observed between the control and extract treated mice, insignificant different in values (P>0.05) were observed among the aqueous and ethanol extract treated mice. Hematological indices of the mice showed slight differences in decreased values from the control to the extract treated group of mice. Results observed were on dose dependence of the extract where no significant difference occurred and changes below or above standard range to suggest ill health. The histopathology of the liver and kidney provided supportive evidence for the unaltered haematological parameters observed.
Conclusion: With the results obtained, composition of drugs, which have the polyherbal formulations of L. dulcis plant extract, should be encouraged for its therapeutic importance, proposed useful remedy in hepatoprotective renal protection.