Sub-acute Toxicity Effects of the Methanolic Extract from Searsia longipes on the Hematological, Biochemical and Histopathological Parameters of Wilstar Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Searsia longipes is a medicinal plant used in Tanzania and other parts of Africa in the management of various diseases. Despite its wide utilization as folk medicine, there is a paucity of safety information about the extract from this plant. Objectives: The present study aimed at investigating the sub-acute toxicity of the methanolic extract from this plant. Methods: The crude extract from the stem bark of S. longipes was extracted by using methanol, after which the assessment of its toxicity was done on Wilstar albino rats. Parameters including haematological, biochemical, histopathological, as well as organ and animal weight were examined to unveil the toxic effect of the plant extract. Results: The plant extract did not induce significant changes to most hematological parameters except for white blood cells, which demonstrated a dose-dependent increase. Notably, thrombocytes showed an increase that was directly proportional to the increase in the extract dose, although not significant. The biochemical parameters did not show significant increase, whereas the histopathological analysis demonstrated mild morphological changes to the liver and kidney at the highest dose used. There were no significant variations in the organ weights; meanwhile, the body weights in treatment groups expressed time-dependent increases, which is similar to that of the control group. Conclusion: This study reports the sub-acute toxicity profile of the extract from S. longipes for the first time. This information is crucial as it not only fills a significant gap in our knowledge but also paves the way for further exploration of this plant as a potential source of diverse therapeutic agents.