Toxicological assessment of ‘Abeere’ seed <i>Hunteria Umbellata</i> K. Schum (Apocyanceae)

Resumen

Thirty age – matched healthy adult male New Zealand white rabbits (2.0 ± 0.5kg BW) were randomly divided into six groups (four treatment and two control groups). The treatment groups were given intraperitoneal injection of either 0.5ml or 1.0ml of water extract of ‘abeere’ seed or the alcoholic extract (w/v) respectively and examined for 14 days. The effect of the seed extracts on the heamatological parameters, selected enzymes, liver function and body weights of the affected rabbits were analyzed. There was a shift in the leucocyte population towards lymphocytes in the rabbits treated with extracts of ‘abeere’ seed and a reduction in neutrophylls. An enhancement in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in rabbits exposed to 0.5ml of water extract of ‘abeere’ was observed. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the histology of major organs and weights of test and control rabbits.
Keywords: Hunteria umbellata, seeds, Toxicity studies, Rabbit