International Journal of Medicinal Plant Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 1 (6), pp. 082-092, November, 2012. © International Scholars  Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biochemical and histological studies on the effects of Azadrichta indica seeds kernel extract on albino rats^ψ

Maha Babiker Dafalla¹, Emadeldin. H. Konozy¹* and Haseeba Ahmed Saad²

¹INRA - Unité de Génétique et Amélioration des Fruits et Légumes, 84143 Montfavet BP94, France.

²Department of Zoology, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 19 July, Accepted 18 September 2012

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of (Azadrichta indica) neem seed kernel aqueous extract on albino Wistar rats. Two experiments were conducted using 34 rats which received different doses of neem aqueous extract. In acute toxicity experiment, rats were treated orally with 0 mg/kg (control), 3 mg/kg (low), 80 mg/kg (medium), and 130 mg/kg (high) body weight for 14 days. In subacute toxicity experiment, rats were treated with 0.5 mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks. Rats that received medium and higher doses showed significant (P<0.05) increase in activity of plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) enzyme. Necrosis of liver and kidney tissues was observed, while mild histopathological changes were seen in the testes. However, urea and glucose level did not show significant change. Testosterone hormone showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in concentration at acute toxicity. In subacute toxicity no significant changes were observed except for significant (P<0.05) increase in testosterone hormone concentration and significant (P<0.05) increase of glucose concentration. Taken together, these results may indicate that neem seed kernel aqueous extract possesses dose-dependent hepatorenal toxicity and antifertility adverse effects.

Key words: Azadrichta indica, seeds kernel extract, toxicity, kidney, liver, testis.