Abstract:
Effect of powdered Stachytarpheta jamaicensis L. leaves known for treating different ailments was investigated for toxicity. In the study, twenty Wister rats (male and female) after due acclimatization, were fed with different graded mixtures of feed mash and the treatment plant. The animals were weighed and divided into four groups of three treatment groups and one control group with each group consisting of five rats. The rats were administered different concentrations of powdered S. jamaicensis leaves mixed with different amount of feed mash. i.e., 75, 50 and 25 g of S. jamaicensis was mixed with 25, 50 and 75 g of normal feed mash. The control was fed only with feed mash all through the period of experiment. The results revealed levels of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) were slightly elevated (p>0.05). Bilirubin levels in all the groups showed slight variation (p>0.05) when compared with control. The ultrasound picture of heart, liver, kidney and spleen showed no significant difference from control. From the results obtained, no significant alteration in the normal serum biochemistry as well as in the echogenic pattern was identified between the control and experimental rats thus suggesting wide therapeutic safety margin in the use of S. jamaicensis.
M. Idu , J.E. Ataman , A.O. Akhigbe , E.K.I. Omogbai , F. Amaechina and E.A. Odia , 2006. Effect of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis L. (Vahl.) on Wistar Rats: Serum Biochemistry and Ultrasonography. Journal of Medical Sciences, 6: 646-649.
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