Safety Evaluation of bioactive Sub-Fraction of Lawsonia inermis Linn leaves in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the safety of bioactive labelled sub-fraction of Lawsonia inermis in male Wistar rats. Twenty male rats ‎were used for this study of five rats per group. Three groups were administered methanol bioactive sub-fraction of Lawsonia ‎inermis at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg for fourteen days while control received distilled water orally. Physiological weight increased in ‎all treatment groups. The group fed with 10 mg/kg had the highest weight gain compared to other treatment groups and the ‎control. Relative organ weight of the heart, liver, kidneys, testes and pancreas did not increase (p>0.05) in all the treatment ‎groups except the pancreas in the group fed with 5 mg/kg that increased significantly (p<0.05). The sperm count in rats fed at ‎dose rate of 10 mg/kg increased significantly (p<0.01) compared to other treatment groups. There were no significant ‎differences in sperm motility, volume and live/dead ratio in the treatment groups compared to control. Haematological ‎parameters such as, PCV, RBC, WBC and haemoglobin concentration were not significantly different compared to control. ‎The AST increased significantly (p<0.01) while urea and creatinine decreased significantly (p<0.001) in group fed with 2.5 ‎mg/kg. 5 mg/kg showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in total protein, urea and ALP while ALT increased significantly. Serum ‎chloride ion at the dose rate of 2.5 mg/kg decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared with other treatment groups. ‎Sodium ion (Na+) decreased significantly (p<0.01), while Bicarbonates (HCO3-) increased significantly in the 5 mg/kg group. It ‎was concluded that the bioactive sub-fraction of Lawsonia. inermis was safe at the administered dosages.‎