title: Toxicity evaluation of the aqueous extract of the rhizome of Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels. (Fabaceae), in rats.
abstract: Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range of ailments both in humans and livestock. As part of the safety assessment of the extract, acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted by the oral route in rats. Male and female rats were divided into four groups consisting of five rats each and given doses of 200-1600 mg/kg bwt, 200-800 mg/kg bwt and 50-400mg/kg bwt in acute (1 day), sub-acute (14 days) and chronic toxicity (35 days), respectively. During the experiment, no deaths were observed in any groups and there were no remarkable changes in general appearance, as well as in food and water consumption. Significant (P<0.05) changes were however noted in body weights, haematological and serum biochemical parameters between the control and treated groups. Histopathological changes were also noted in kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen of rats receiving high doses. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that the plant has some potential toxicity at certain dose levels; therefore caution has to be taken when using E. elephantina for medicinal purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock and Pasture Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maphosa
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Masika
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moyo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts