Evaluation of the toxicological effect of stem bark extracts of Terminalia superba Engler & Diels (Combretaceae)

Abstract

Terminalia superba (T. superba) is a medicinal plant used in traditional treatment of several diseases in Africa. In order to establish the safety of T. superba extracts, larval cytotoxicity and acute oral toxicity tests were carried out. Lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal dose 50 (LD50) were determined. The hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed after administration of a single dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) of ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of T. superba bark powder to albinos Wistar rats for 14 days. The LC 50 was 1.441mg/ml for the ethanol extract and 2.438mg/ml for the hydroethanolic extract. Acute toxicity study showed no mortality and no toxic effect. There were no significant changes in hematological and biochemical parameters levels when compared to control suggesting that LD50 of T. superba bark extract is greater than 2000mg/kg bw. The safety usage of extracts from T. superba in traditional medicine vis-à-vis toxicity consideration is discussed and results showed the plant has no marked acute toxic effect in rats.