The Sub Acute Toxicity Evaluation of <i>Stereospermum kunthianum</i>Aqueous Methanolic Stem Bark Extract

Stereospermum kunthianum (Bignoniaceae) is a plant widely used for health benefits. A safety profile evaluation (acute toxicity study) of the plant extract is critical, in a step to the systematic pharmacognostic study of this plant. Thirty-two (32) rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups labelled 1 to 4 with the initial weights of the rats recorded. The animals in group 1 served as control and were administered distilled water, while those in Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg respectively, of the Stereospermum kunthianum aqueous methanolic stem bark extract daily. The results indicated no deaths, no observable clinical signs of toxicity, no obvious stress or changes in physical appearance or behaviour in the rats. This general picture of safety is further supported by the multiple comparison post hoc test (Turkey’s) of, the organs weights, the renal (electrolyte, urea and creatinine), the haematological parameters (RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Platelet), and the hepatic enzymes (AST and ALT), that all showed the control group to be insignificantly different from the extract treated groups. In conclusion, the extract was deduced to be safe on oral administration for 28 days and it also showed a hepatoprotective quality.