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Asian Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2012 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 314-321
Research Article

Sub-chronic Study of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Senna siamea in Rats

A. Mohammed
Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
S.B. Mada
Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
H.M. Yakasai
Department of Biochemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Senna siamea is a plant commonly used in traditional medicine to treat hypertension, malaria and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the sub-chronic toxicity of aqueous extract from the stem bark of S. siamea male Wistar rats. The extract was orally administered for seven weeks at 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg kg-1 body weight. The results obtained showed that the extract significantly (p<0.05) increases the body weight and feed intake of the rats. Hematological parameters (PCV, Hb, platelets, WBC and RBC) were not significantly (p<0.05) affected by the extract. But the levels of serum liver enzymes (Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Aminotransaminase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransaminase (AST) were significantly different (p<0.05) from the normal control group. In contrast, no significant change was observed in the total protein and albumin levels in the treated group compared to the normal group. Similarly, serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and the markers of kidney function (creatinine, urea, potassium, sodium and chloride) did not differ significantly (p<0.05) from the normal control group. The quantitative determination of saponins, alkaloids, total polyphenolics and flavonoids in (g/g) were found to be 0.07±0.01, 0.05±0.02, 0.92±0.05 and 0.06±0.01. These results may explain the use of S. siamea stem bark in folk medicine due its less toxic effect.
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