title: Anti-atherogenic and anti-ischemic potentials of Croton membranaceus observed during sub-chronic toxicity studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Croton membranaceus (CM) is used for benign prostate hyperplasia treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Sub-chronic toxicity studies are non-existent and provided the basis for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  90 days oral administration of a low dose (LD) (30 mg/kg b. wt.), medium dose (MD) (150 mg/kg b. wt.), and high dose (HD) (300 mg/kg b. wt.) CM aqueous root extract to 3 groups (n=6 each) of male Sprague-Dawley rats, alongside a control group, was undertaken. Urinalysis, hepato-renal function tests, lipid profile, cardiac enzymes, and routine hematology tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triglyceride levels (C=1.05±0.19, LD=0.64±0.08, MD=0.55±0.04, HD=0.50±0.02 mmol/L) were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Very low density lipoprotein (C=0.48±0.09, LD=0.29±0.04, MD=0.25±0.02, HD=0.23±0.01 mmol/L) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Cardiac enzymes-creatinine kinase (C=568±172, LD=315±79, MD=441±209, HD=286±81 IU/L) decreased markedly (P<0.05) alongside lactate dehydrogenase (C=2675±875, LD=1667±1229, MD=1186±442, HD=855±239 IU/L) (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. membranaceus aqueous root extract is non-toxic but demonstrates anti-atherogenic and anti-ischemic potentials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dan K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Afriyie
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.forename: Kwasi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bugyei
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asiedu-Gyekye
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: Archibald
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sittie
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nyarko
keywords: Anti-atherogenic; Croton membranaceus; anti-ischemic; sub-chronic; toxicity