Toxicological studies of aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of Spondias purpurea (red plum) in rats

Abstract Background Spondias purpurea is a flowering plant of the cashew family commonly found in South Western Nigeria. The plant is used in folk medicine for treatment of gastric disorders and diarrhoea. The purpose of the study was to investigate the haematological and histopathological effects of aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of S. purpurea (red plum) in rats. Methods Female wistar rats weighing (121.5 ± 30.41 g) were administered 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous and ethanol extracts of S. purpurea leaf (orally) daily for 14 days, while the control group was administered 0.5 ml of normal saline (vehicle). At the end of the study, the rats were euthanized; blood samples were collected for haematological parameters. The liver, kidney and spleen were harvested from the rats for photomicrographic examination. Result The result of the acute toxicity test revealed no death with dose up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The administration of the extracts showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the hematologic parameters of the animals. The liver sections showed congestion, mononuclear infiltration, widened sinusoidal space and congestions with hemosiderin. Similar changes were observed in the kidney showing slight necrosis of renal tubular epithelium, widened Bowman’s space, and collapsed renal tubules and adhesion of the parietal layer of glomerulus to the Bowman’s space. The spleen showed congestion, lymphocyte proliferation at the germinal centre. Conclusions The result of this study showed that the alterations observed in the organs intensified with increase in the doses of the extracts administered. It can be inferred that the prolonged consumption of S. purpurea leaf maybe associated with significant tissue damage of some vital organs