
	Research Journal of Medicinal Plants
	Year: 2009 \| Volume: 3 \| Issue: 2 \| Page No.: 52-60

Toxicological Studies of a Nigerian Commercial Polyherbal Product in Albino Rats

E.U. Etuk, V. Igbokwe, O.P. Ajagbonna and M.O. Egua

Abstract: There have been earlier reports of herbal medicine toxicity elsewhere in Nigeria, China and India. The present study examined the possible acute and subchronic toxic effects of Nasara Pile Syrup (NPS), a Nigerian commercial polyherbal medicine in albino rats. Graded doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 1.75 mL/100 g) of the herbal medicine were administered to 4 groups of albino rats and their responses observed for 72 h to study the acute toxic effect of the herbal medicine. In the subchronic toxicity study, the rats were treated orally with repeated doses of the extract for 28 days after which the animals were slaughtered and samples from the liver, kidney and heart obtained for histopathological examination. The results showed that, administration of a single dose of the herbal medicine did not produce any harmful effect or death in the animals. But in the repeated dose treatment, the herbal medicine produced a number of deaths and damages on the kidney, liver and heart of the rats that were evidenced by histopathological lesions in a dose dependent manner. Based on the results, it was concluded that, prolong administration of NPS may cause harmful effect in the consumers, therefore, the general public should exercise caution in taking this herbal remedy and they should be aware of the impending health risk that may be associated with it.

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How to cite this article:

E.U. Etuk, V. Igbokwe, O.P. Ajagbonna and M.O. Egua, 2009. Toxicological Studies of a Nigerian Commercial Polyherbal Product in Albino Rats. Research Journal of Medicinal Plants, 3: 52-60.

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=rjmp.2009.52.60

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