title: Long-term continuous administration of a hydro-ethanolic extract ofSynedrella nodiflora(L) Gaertn in male Sprague-Dawley rats: biochemical, haematological and histopathological changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conflicting reports about the toxicity ofSynedrella nodiflora(L) Gaertn (family Asteraceae), a plant traditionally used in Ghana for the management of epilepsy, abound in literature. The present study evaluates the effect of a 90-day continuous oral administration of a hydro-ethanolic whole plant extract ofSynedrella nodiflora(SNE) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The toxicological evaluation of the extract (100, 300 and 1000 mgkg-1) was focused on haematological, serum biochemical parameters and histopathological changes of some isolated organs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract produced no mortality in the rats treated during the study period. Only SNE 100 mgkg-1produced significant decrease in white blood cell and neutrophil counts and an increase in albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, total protein and potassium levels. The higher doses (SNE 300 and 1000 mgkg-1) had no significant effect on all the haematological and biochemical parameters measured. Histopathological assessment of the liver, kidney and heart revealed no abnormalities in rats treated with the extracts. Only the SNE 1000 mgkg-1produced distortions of the branching arrangements of the myocardial fibres and a congested vessel which indicates a healed infarction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest hydro-ethanolic extract ofSynedrella nodiflora(L) Gaertn generally has a low toxicity profile following a 90-day continuous oral administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats under the present laboratory conditions. However patients with renal or cardiac problems should use the plant with caution.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Jointly supported by the International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden, through a grant (# F/5191-1) to Dr. Patrick Amoateng and the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, grant awarded to Dr. Patrick Amoateng (reference number: URF/6/ILG-002/2012-2013).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amoateng
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG56, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dorcas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osei-Safo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Believe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahedor
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Biomedical & Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Seidu A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Benoit B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: N'guessan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Asiedu-Gyekye
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nyarko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005869:Ghana; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000187:drug effects; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012709:Serum Albumin; D001663:Bilirubin; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Sprague-Dawley rats; Synedrella nodiflora; haematological; histopathological