Abstract

Gnetum africanum (Welw) leaves have been in use as herbal remedy for treatment of pile, high blood pressure, diabetes and fungal infections especially in West Africa. There is a dearth of information on their effects on body weights, relative organ weights and haematology of rats following chronic administration. The leaves of G. africanum were collected and air dried, pulverized and soaked in 80 % methanol for 48 hours. The extract was concentrated in vacuo using a rotary evaporator and stored as G. africanum extract (GAE) at 4^oC. Fifty-six rats randomly divided into four groups (n=fourteen) were used in this study. The rats were fed growers ration (Vital^® Feed, Nigeria) into which the extract was incorporated at various doses for ninety days. Rats in group 1 received feed without GAE, while rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given feed with GAE at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Four rats from each group were weighed and humanely sacrificed at days 30, 60 and 90 for measurement of liver, kidney, lungs and spleen weights. Treated rats had significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weights and lower relative organ weights than the control. Also, rats given 20 mg/kg (group 3) and 40 mg/kg (group 4) of extract in feed at days 60 and 90, had significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count than the control. There were no significant effects on the white blood cells.

Keywords: Bodyweights, chronic toxicity test,Gnetum africanum, relative organ weights, wistar rats