International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) ISSN 2307-4531 http://gssrr.org/index.php?journal=JournalOfBasicAndApplied Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Studies of Sclerocarya birrea Peels Extract in Rats S. Muhammad a , L. G. Hassan b , S.M. Dangoggo c , S.W. Hassan d , R.A. Umar e , K. J. Umar f * a Department of Chemistry, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria b Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria c Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria d Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria e Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria f Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria a surajomabera@gmail.com b lghassan2002@yahoo.com c smdd767@yahoo.com d hassanwara@gmail.com e rabiu34@yahoo.com f kjumar@gmail.com Abstract Sclerocarya birrea fruits are widely eaten in developing countries especially in rural areas where they serve as nutritional supplements. However, they may also contain phyto-toxins which may affect the normal functioning of the body. Acute toxicity study was performed by a single oral administration of a dose of 3000 mg/kg body weight. Sub chronic toxicity evaluation was conducted by oral feeding of the rats with the peels extract daily at doses of 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. The results of acute toxicity show no mortality and general behaviour changes. The lethal dosage (LD 50 ) was greater than 3000 mg/kg body weight. Rats fed with 1000, 2000 and 3000mg/kg body weight of the extract have higher body weights throughout the period of treatment but not significantly (p>0.05) different from the control group. Rats fed with 4000mg/kg body weight have significantly (p<0.05) lower body weight throughout the period of treatment. Significantly (p<0.05) higher serum total proteins, albumin, bilirubin, transaminases, creatinine, urea, uric acid and electrolytes were recorded in rats fed with 3000 to 4000 mg/kg body weight of the extract, suggesting liver and kidney toxicities. Therefore, the peels extract of S. birrea may be relatively toxic at doses of 3000 and 4000 mg/kg body weight. Further studies are required for isolation and characterization of the toxic compounds. Keywords: Sclerocarya birrea; Hepatorenal indices; Toxicity; Peels; Albino rats. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Corresponding author. Tel.: +2347034845355. E-mail address: kjumar@gmail.com; kjumar@udusok.edu.ng. 111 brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by GSSRR.ORG: International Journals: Publishing Research Papers in all Fields