ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 2 (3), pp. 166-169, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Phytochemical and preliminary toxicological studies of the aqueous leave extract of Leucas martinicensis in wistar rats
Uche A. Eze1, Shaibu O. Bello1, 2, Emmanuel U. Etuk1, George I. Ameh3, Oguejiofor M. Ugwah1, Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor2,*
1Department of Pharmacology, College of health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria.
3Department of Microbiology, College of health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, P.M.B. 2346 Sokoto, Nigeria.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Acceptance 1 March, 2013
Abstract
Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R. Br. Family Lamiaceae and commonly called Whitewort grows widely in the Northern part of Nigeria. It has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions, rashes, diarrhoea, epilepsy and convulsions. The present study was to investigate the safety and phytochemical components of the aqueous leave extract of Leucas martinicensis. The quantitative and qualitative phytochemical studies were conducted on the leaf extract. Acute toxicity was studied using the up and down procedure at an oral Limit dose of 3000 mg/kg body weight. Female rats in sequence were used to test for acute toxic effect. Repeat dose toxicity study was carried out at an oral dose of 750 mg/kg daily for 28days. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponins (3.15%), glycosides (1.35%), alkaloids (3.95%) and flavonoids (3.56%). The acute toxicity result showed that the extract has LD50 above 3000mg/kg and repeat dose toxicity studies of the extract revealed elevated aspartate transaminase enzyme and haemorrhage around the cardiac myocytes. Though the extract is relatively safe, its prolong use may carry risk of cardiac toxicities.
Key words: Toxicity, Leucas martinicensis, Wistar rats, Phytochemical studies.