Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic root extract of cassia sieberiana in rats

A. Weremfo¹, M. Duweijua² and S. Abassah-Oppong³

¹Biochemistry Department, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, (Ghana) ²Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, KNUST, Kumasi (Ghana) ³Biochemistry Department, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast (Ghana)

ABSTRACT: The root of Cassia sieberiana (Caesalpinaceae) has been used extensively in Ghanaian traditional medicines as a remedy for the treatment of abnormal pain, dysmenorrhoea, ulcer and general body pains. The analgesic activity of the root extract has previously been established. Even though the plant has been used extensively, little is known about its possible side effects associated with its use. This work evaluated the ethanolic root extract of Cassia sieberiana for their behavioural and pharmaco-toxicological effects. No acute toxic effect was observed after a single oral dose up to 3.2 g/Kg of the extract. After administering the extract (40, 160 and 640 mg/Kg, p.o.) to the rats for 30 days, no deaths were found and the histopathological analysis of the vital organs did not show alterations. The extract also did not cause significant changes in the biochemical parameters examined except bilirubin level. For the haematological parameters studied, the red blood cells and haemoglobin concentrations increased which may be due to haemolysis.

KEYWORDS: Toxicological evaluation; root extract; cassia sieberiana

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