Subacute toxicological profile of Caladium bicolor Aiton (Araceae) methanolic leaf extract in rat

Context: Caladium bicolor is used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of convulsions without any scientific information of its safety profile following repeated administration. Aims: To evaluate the sub-acute toxicological profile of the methanol leaf extract of C. bicolor. Methods: Oral acute toxicity test was done using Lorke’s method. Oral sub-acute toxicity was done for 28 days, with hematological, biochemical and histological markers of toxicity evaluated. Results: The results showed no significant change in the organ weights of rats. Hematological indices were comparable with control groups except for a slight increase in monocyte levels (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels when compared to the control. However, there was a significant (p