Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
Research Paper
40
Afr. J. Traditional,
Complementary and Alternative
M edicines
w w w .africanet hnomedicines.net
ISSN 0189-6016© 2009
EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATION OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF HIPPOBROMUS PAUCIFLORUS
LEAVES IN MALE WISTAR RATS
S. C. Pendota, M. T. Yakubu, D. S. Grierson and A. J. Afolayan*
Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.
*E-mail: Aafolayan@ufh.ac.za
Abstract
The effect of administration of aqueous extract of Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f.) Radlk (Sapindaceae)
leaves at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 days on some biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats
was investigated. The extract at all the doses tested did not significantly (P>0.05) alter the levels of white blood
cells, red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and large
unstained cells. While the levels of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and basophils increased significantly
(P<0.05) at specific doses, the mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and
eosinophils decreased significantly (P<0.05). Again, the extract did not significantly (P<0.05) alter the
computed liver- and kidney-body weight ratios, sodium, chloride and total protein, though, the levels of
potassium, inorganic phosphorus, globulin, urea, total and conjugated bilirubin increased significantly (P<0.05)
at certain doses. In contrast, the levels of albumin and creatinine also decreased significantly (P<0.05) at specific
doses. While the activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine aminotransferase
remained significantly (P<0.05) unaltered in the serum, aspartate aminotransferase activity increased only at 200
mg/kg body weight. The atherogenic index as well as the concentrations of cholesterol, high- and low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum of the animals were not significantly (P>0.05) altered. However, the extract
significantly (P<0.05) increased the concentration of triacylglycerol. The results suggest that the extract has mild
and dose specific haemato-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects and may not be completely safe as oral remedy at
the doses investigated.
Keywords: Hippobromus pauciflorus, haematotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, oral remedy
Introduction
The use of plants for healing purpose(s) is getting increasingly popular as it is believed that botanicals
are beneficial and free of side effects (Leonardo et al., 2000). With the upsurge in the use of herbal medicines,
thorough scientific investigations of these plants are imperative, in order to provide information on their safety or
toxicity risk. One of such plants widely used in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is Hippobromus pauciflorus.
Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f.) Radlk (Sapindaceae), locally known as Ulathile (Xhosa) is a resinous tree that
grows up to 5 m in height. It is widely distributed in riverine thickets, along stream banks and at the margins of
evergreen forests of South Africa. The leaves are simple and are arranged in alternate fashion. Several medicinal
uses of the plant have been reported. For example, the leaves of H. pauciflorus are used by the traditional healers
in the Eastern Cape of South Africa for the treatment of malaria, dysentery, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis and
livestock diseases (Masika and Afolayan, 2003; Clarkson et al., 2004; Pendota et al., 2008).
To the best of our knowledge and as at the time of carrying out this study, there has not been any
previous information in the open scientific literature on the toxicity of the extract of Hippobromus pauciflorus
leaves in male rats. Therefore, this study investigates the possible toxic effects of the leaf extract of
Hippobromus pauciflorus using male Wistar rats as model.
Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
41
Materials and Methods
Plant material and authentication
Hippobromus pauciflorus samples were collected in August, 2008 from Sikusthwana village, near
Alice, in the Eastern Cape. The species was authenticated by Professor D. S. Grierson of the Department of
Botany, University of Fort Hare. A voucher specimen (SC Pendota 01/2008) was deposited at the Giffen
Herbarium of the University.
Experimental animals
Apparently healthy, twenty, male Wistar rats weighing between 200 and 230 g were obtained from the
Animal House of the Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare. All the
animals were housed in clean metabolic cages placed in well-ventilated house conditions (temperature 23 ± 1˚C;
photoperiod: 12 h natural light and 12 h dark: humidity: 45-50%). They were also allowed free access to
Balanced Trusty Chunks (Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd., Huguenot, South Africa) and tap water freed of
contaminants.
Assay kits
The assay kits for creatinine, urea, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, albumin,
bilirubin, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine and aspartate
aminotransferases (ALT and AST respectively) were obtained from Roche Diagnostic GmbH, Mannhein,
Germany. All other reagents used were of analytical grade and were supplied by Merck Chemicals (Pty) Ltd.,
Bellville, South Africa.
Preparation of extract
The leaves of the plant were air-dried at room temperature for 7 days. The dried material was
pulverized with an electric blender. Hundred grams of the powder was extracted in 1000 ml of distilled water for
48 hrs with constant shaking (SO1 Stuart Scientific Orbital Shaker, Stone, UK). The extract was filtered using a
Buchner funnel and Whatman no. 1 filter paper. The resulting filtrate was freeze-dried (Savant Refrigerated
Vapour Trap, RV T41404, USA) to give a yield of 12.47 g. This was reconstituted separately in distilled water to
give the required doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract used in this study.
Animal grouping and administration of extract
Twenty male rats were completely randomized into four groups each consisting of five animals, and
were orally administered as follows: Group A (control) was administered with 0.5 ml of distilled water while
groups B, C and D were given 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. The
administration was done repeatedly on daily basis for two weeks using metal oropharyngeal cannula. The
animals were sacrificed 24 hrs after their 14 daily doses of distilled water and extract. This study was carried out
following approval from the Ethical Committee on Animal Use and Care of the University of Fort Hare, South
Africa.
Preparation of serum
The procedure described by Yakubu et al (2005) was employed in the preparation of the serum. Briefly,
under ether anaesthesia, rats were made to bleed through their cut jugular veins which were slightly displaced (to
prevent contamination by interstitial fluid) into clean, dry centrifuge tubes. An aliquot (2 ml) of the blood was
collected into sample bottles containing EDTA (BD Diagnostics, Preanalytical Systems, Midrand, USA) for the
haematological analysis. Another 5 ml of the blood was allowed to clot for 10 mins at room temperature and
then centrifuged at 1282 g x 5 mins using Hermle Bench Top Centrifuge (Model Z300, Hamburg, Germany).
The sera were later aspirated with Pasteur pipettes into sample bottles and used within 12 hr of preparation for
the assay. The rats were thereafter quickly dissected in the cold; the liver and kidney were excised and
transferred into ice-cold 0.25 M sucrose solution. The organs were freed of fat, blotted with clean tissue paper
and then weighed.
Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
42
Determination of biochemical parameters
Adopting the method of Tietz et al (1994), the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic
phosphorus, urea, creatinine, total and conjugated bilirubin, albumin, globulin, total protein, ALP, GGT, ALT,
AST, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-C and LDL-C were determined in the serum using assay kits from Roche
Diagnostics on Roche Modular (model P800) Mannhein, Germany. The Horiba ABX 80 Diagnostics (ABX
Pentra Montpellier, France) was used for the determination of haematological parameters: red blood cells (RBC),
haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular
haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), large unstained cell (LUC),
neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and platelet. The analyzer was optimized for use on
animal blood.
Statistical analysis
Data obtained were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated by
Duncan Multiple Range Test. Percentage data were arcsine transformed before analysis. Significant levels were
tested at P < 0.05.
Table 1: Effect of aqueous extract of H. pauciflorus leaves on haematological parameters of male rats n=5;
mean ± S.D.
Doses (mg/kg body weight)
Parameters
WBC (x109 L-1)
Control
14.86±1.97a
50
14.90±2.98a
100
14.25±3.39a
200
14.31±1.58a
RBC (x1012 L-1)
8.66±0.27a
8.46±0.53a
9.25±0.52a
9.24±0.73a
Hb (g Dl-1)
15.46±0.35a
15.32±0.37a
16.48±0.68b
16.94±0.46b
PCV (1L-1)
0.49±0.02a
0.50±0.01a
0.58±0.01b
0.59±0.12b
MCV (fl)
58.91±1.61a
57.16±2.44a
59.28±2.47a
59.70±1.95a
MCH (pg)
18.26±0.43a
18.08±0.75a
17.84±0.72a
15.54±1.95b
MCHC (g dl -1)
31.46±0.47a
30.50±0.32ba
31.20±0.53ba
20.96± 0.90b
Platelet (x109 L-1)
896.20± 9.42a
887.4± 8.00a
870.8±13.95a
840.8±15.14a
Neutrophils (%)
5.76±0.10a
5.90±0.07a
5.24±0.91a
5.34±0.02a
Monocytes (%)
34.94±2.47a
33.26±1.01a
34.98±2.48a
33.70±1.15a
Lymphocytes (%)
54.46±2.53a
54.18±1.80a
52.28±2.19a
52.06±1.81a
LUC (%)
8.20±0.91a
8.90±0.42a
8.54±0.72a
8.64±0.55a
Eosinophils (%)
2.40±0.18a
1.80±0.18b
2.22±1.32a
0.74±0.31b
Basophils (%) (U/L)
0.46±0.08b
0.56±0.08a
0.64±0.11b
0.92±0.53a
Means with the same superscripts as control across the rows are not significantly different (P>0.05). WBC:
White blood cell, RBC: Red blood cell, PCV: Packed cell volume, Hb: Haemoglobin, MCV: Mean corpuscular
volume, MCH: Mean corpuscular haemoglobin, MCHC: Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and
LUC: Large unstained cell.
Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
43
Results
The administration of aqueous extract of H. Pauciflorus leaves produced no significant (P>0.05)
difference on the WBC, RBC, MCV, platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and LUC of the animals
(Table 1). There was, however, dose and parameters specific effects on the remaining haematological indices.
For instance, the 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of Hb
and PCV of the animals whereas the MCH and MCHC significantly (P<0.05) decreased only at 200 mg/kg body
weight of the extract. While the levels of eosinophil decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 50 and 200 mg/kg body
weight, all the doses investigated (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weigh) significantly (P<0.05) increased the level
of basophils (Table 1).
Table 2: Effect of aqueous extract of H. pauciflorus leaves on liver and kidney functional indices of Wistar rats
n=5; mean ± S.D.
Doses (mg/kg body weight)
Parameters
Liver body weight ratio
(%)
Control
4.20±0.13a
50
4.32±0.86a
100
4.20±0.11a
200
4.19±0.36a
Total protein (g L-1)
68.00±1.22a
69.40±4.50a
70.60±2.19a
69.80±1.64a
-1
a
a
a
Albumin (mmol L )
17.80±0.44
18.00±1.00
18.80±1.09
15.40±1.51b
-1
a
a
a
Globulin (mmol L )
50.60±1.34
51.40±3.50
51.80±3.03
54.40±0.89b
a
a
a
Total bilirubin (mmol L
8.80±3.03
8.40±1.51
15.40±4.72b
7.40±0.54
1
)
2.40±0.54a
2.40±0.54a
2.30±0.02a
6.40±0.88b
Conjugated bilirubin
-1
(umol L )
Kidney body weight ratio
0.78±0.12a
0.80±0.11a
0.76±0.04a
0.79±0.06a
(%)
Sodium (mmol L-1)
140.20±1.30a
141.00±1.87a
141.80±0.44a
141.00±1.00a
-1
a
a
a
Potassium (mmol L )
5.22±0.25
5.20±0.18
5.28±0.32
6.18±0.57b
-1
a
a
a
Chloride (mmol L )
103.80±1.30
105.40±1.67
104.00±1.87
103.40±0.54a
a
a
a
3.06±0.11
2.86±0.21
3.14±0.08
3.78±0.21b
Inorganic phosphorus
-1
(mmol L )
Urea (mmol L-1)
6.96±0.1ba
8.70±1.39b
8.50±1.23b
6.22±0.08a
-1
a
a
b
Creatinine (mmol L )
44.00±2.34
44.80±4.76
34.40±7.70
37.60±7.23ba
a
a
a
Alkaline phosphatase
328.40±12.45
345.40±7.49
349.40±6.43
343.40±4.72a
(U/L)
Gamma glutamyl
5.00±0.00a
5.80±1.30a
5.60±1.34a
5.00±0.00a
transferase (U/L)
Alanine aminotransferase
54.80±5.97ba
52.40±3.71b
56.60±8.32ba
53.20±4.00a
(U/L)
Aspartate
209.80±9.71a
200.40±8.39a
193.4±14.56a
248.00±8.68b
aminotransferase (U/L)
Means with the same superscripts as control across the rows are not significantly different (p>0.05)
Generally, the extract did not significantly (P>0.05) alter the computed liver- and kidney- body weight
ratios of the animals (Table 2). Also, the levels of sodium, chloride and total protein were not significantly
(P>0.05) affected. There was however, dose specific effect on the remaining functional parameters of the liver
and kidney such as total and conjugated bilirubin, albumin, globulin, AST, potassium, inorganic phosphorus,
creatinine and urea. For instance, the 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the
concentrations of potassium, inorganic phosphorus, globulin as well as total and conjugated bilirubin. In
contrast, the level of albumin decreased significantly (P<0.05) at the same dose (200 mg/kg body weight).
Whereas the 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the serum urea
concentration, the 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of creatinine in
the animals (Table 2). While the activities of ALP, GGT and ALT remained significantly (P>0.05) unaltered in
the serum of the animals, AST activity increased significantly (P<0.05) only at 200 mg/kg body weight (Table
2). The other dose levels (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the activity of
AST in the serum of the animals.
Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
44
The extract did not produce any significant (P>0.05) changes in the atherogenic index as well as on the
concentrations of cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C in the serum of the animals. In contrast, the concentration of
triacylglycerol in the serum of the animals increased significantly (P<0.05) at all the doses investigated in this
study (Table 3).
Table 3: Effect of aqueous extract of H. pauciflorus leaves on serum lipid profile of male rats n=5; mean ± S.D.
Doses (mg/kg body weight)
Parameters
Cholesterol (mmol/L)
Control
1.48±0.08a
50
1.44±0.03a
100
1.45±0.01a
200
1.44±0.06a
Triacylglycerol (mmol/L)
0.88±0.10a
1.16±0.03b
1.82±0.09c
0.94±0.04d
High density lipoprotein
cholesterol (mmol/L)
1.14±0.06a
1.06±0.05a
1.11±0.03a
1.08±0.02a
Low density lipoprotein
cholesterol (mmol/L)
0.71±0.01a
0.69±0.03a
0.70±0.02a
0.71±0.02a
0.62
0.65
0.63
0.66
Atherogenic index (LDLC/HDL-C)
a-d
Test values for each parameter are significantly different (P<0.05)
Discussion
Measurement of haematological parameters in rats following the administration of a chemical
compound including plant extract could give useful information on the effect of such compound on the blood
(Yakubu et al., 2007). While the aqueous extract of H. Pauciflorus leaves had no effect on the WBC, RBC,
MCV, platelet, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and LUC, other parameters such as Hb, PCV, MCH,
MCHC, eosinophils and basophils were affected at specific doses of the extract. This is an indication of the
selective effect of the extract on the blood indices. Consequently, the enhanced level of the Hb at 100 and 200
mg/kg body weight of the extract may be due to stimulatory effect on the rate of production over the rate of
destruction of the blood corpuscles; this may also account for the increase in PCV of the animals (Adebayo et al.,
2005). Since MCHC, MCH and MCV relate to individual red blood cells, the reduction in MCH and MCHC
only at 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract may adversely affect the individual red blood cells (Adebayo et al.,
2005). The alterations in the levels of eosinophils and basophils may also suggest an effect on the immune
system since they are component cells of the immune system.
Biochemical evaluation of hepatorenal functional indices is important because kidney and liver toxicity
has been reported following the use of phytotherapeutic products (Isnard et al., 2004; Saad et al., 2006). The
biochemical indices of the kidney such as electrolytes, creatinine and urea as well as the synthetic products of the
liver like albumin and protein can be used as ‘markers’ for assessing the functional capacities of the organs
(Jesse, 1982). The absence of significant effect on the liver and kidney body weight ratios following the
administration of the extracts suggests that the extract did not cause swelling, atrophy or hypertrophy of the
organs (Amresh et al., 2008).
Albumin, total bilirubin and globulin are mixtures of molecules that can be used to evaluate the normal
functioning of the liver of animals (Rasekh et al., 2008). The reduction in the level of serum albumin at 200
mg/kg body weight of the extract may be an indication of diminished synthetic function of the liver, resulting
from hepatocellular damage (Woodman, 1996). Bilirubin is an important metabolic product of blood with
biological and diagnostic values. The increase in total and conjugated bilirubin at 200 mg/kg body weight may
be an indication of impairment in the liver function capacity (Moudgil and Narang, 1989). Similarly, the elevated
levels of globulin at the highest dose (200 mg/kg body weight) suggest dose specific effect of the extract on the
liver parameter.
The kidney functioning capacity was assessed in this study by measuring the levels of electrolytes,
creatinine and urea in the serum of the animals. The absence of significant effect of the extract on the serum
concentrations of sodium and chloride ions of the animals suggest that the normal functioning of the organ in
Pendota et al., Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2010) 7 (1): 40 - 46
45
relation to these electrolytes were unaffected. However, the increase in the levels of potassium and inorganic
phosphorus at 200 mg/kg body weight indicate dose- and parameter specific effect of the extract since other
electrolytes were not significantly altered at other dose levels different from 200 mg/kg body weight. Creatinine,
synthesized in the liver, passes into the circulation where it is taken up almost entirely by the skeletal muscles.
Its retention in the blood is an evidence of kidney impairment (Wurochekke et al., 2008). Therefore, the reduced
levels of creatinine in the serum may imply that the extract has interfered with creatinine metabolism and its
eventual excretion from the blood. Urea is the main product of protein catabolism. The increase in serum urea
level at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight suggest impairment in the normal kidney function of the animals as the
mechanism of removing it from the blood might have been affected. It may also be an indication of dysfunction
at the glomerular and tubular levels of the kidney
There are many enzymes found in the serum that did not actually originate from the extracellular fluid.
During tissue damage, some of these enzymes find their way into the serum, probably by leakage (Reichling and
Kaplan, 1988). Serum enzyme measurements are therefore a valuable tool in clinical diagnosis, providing
information on the effect and nature of pathological damage to any tissue. Therefore, the lack of an effect on the
ALP and GGT in the serum of the animals suggests that the extract did not cause damage to the plasma
membrane. Similarly, the absence of an effect on the ALT activity, in addition, to the alteration on the AST at
200 mg/kg body weight further buttress selective effect on the activity of the enzymes. The increase in the AST
activity only at 200 mg/kg body weight may be due to physiological response to the effect of the extract arising
from de novo synthesis of the enzyme molecule (Nakanishi and Goto, 1975). This may have consequential effect
on the amino acid metabolism of the animals.
Alterations in the concentration of major lipids like cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides can give useful information on the lipid metabolism as well
as predisposition of the animals to atherosclerosis and its associated coronary heart diseases (Yakubu et al.,
(2008). Elevated levels of all lipids except the HDL-C are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis. The
lack of an effect by the extract on all the serum lipid parameters investigated in this study except triacylglycerol
suggests selective effect on the lipid parameters. The increase in the triacylglycerol concentration of the serum of
the animals might be due to accelerated lipolysis. This may consequentially deplete the store of fatty acids
(Yakubu et al., 2008). It is also possible that the extract may not predispose the animals to atherosclerosis since
the atherogenic index was not significantly altered.
In conclusion, the extract from the leaves of H. pauciflorus has selectively altered the haematological,
liver and kidney functional parameters of male Wistar rats investigated in this study. This study has revealed that
the extract has mild and dose specific haemato-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects and may not be completely safe
as an oral remedy in male rats.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the National Research Foundation of South Africa for supporting this work.
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