title: Acute toxicity studies of Croton membranaceus root extract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Croton membranaceus root and leaf extracts are used in the Bahamas to aromatize tobacco, in Nigeria to improve digestion, and in Ghana, for benign prostate hyperplasia. Despite claims of success there is paucity of information on its toxicity. The aim of this study was to determine if Croton membranaceus has acute toxicity properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Roots were air-dried in a solar dryer for one week before milling. The powder was extracted with 96% ethanol, freeze-dried and re-extracted with distilled water and freeze-dried. 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) were divided equally into 2 treatment groups [low dose (LD) and high dose (HD)], plus a control group (C). LD and HD received 1500 and 3000 mg/kg b.wt. Croton membranaceus aqueous extract, respectively, one time and observed for 14 days. Haematological [Full Blood Count and haemoglobin (Hb)], biochemical [bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatise (ALP), γ-glutamyltranspetidase (GGT), urea, creatinine, creatinine kinase - Muscle and Brain (CK-MB), creatinine kinase - Total (CK-R)] examinations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Control group's CK-MB (5444±534 U/L) and LD group CK-MB (4014±1016 U/L) were significantly different (p<0.05). Control and the HD group CK-MB (3955±1135 U/L) were significantly different (p<0.05). Both LD and HD CK-R levels (697±197U/L and 732±203 U/L, respectively), were lower than the control (1139±220 U/L) at 48 h and 14 days (p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). γ-GT levels of the HD group was 4.8±0.4 U/L compared to the Control group value of 0.9±0.2 U/L (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking all factors into consideration, Croton membranaceus ingestion does not produce general acute toxicity. However, its creatinine kinase lowering ability could be explored.
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana. gasare@chs.edu.gh
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sittie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bugyei
authors.forename: Ben A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gyan
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Addo
authors.forename: Edwin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wiredu
authors.forename: Alex K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.forename: Lydia S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Otu-Nyarko
authors.forename: David Nana
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Adjei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts