Evaluation of the toxicological effect of methanol extract of unfermented Theobroma cacao in wistar albino rats

Background: The pod of Theobroma cacao is usually processed into a variety of beverages for human consumption; hence this study investigated its safety to vital organs at different doses. Method: Phytochemical, nutrient and antinutrient composition of unfermented theobroma cacao were determined using standard procedures. A total number of twenty-four (24) adult male Wistar albino rats (140 – 200g) were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each and were administered thus: Group I (normal control) rats were intraperitoneally administered with normal saline (1ml/kg b.w./day) for twenty-one days while group II, III and IV were intraperitoneally administered 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg b.w/day of Theobroma cacao for twenty-one days. During the course of the treatments, blood was extracted on days 0, 14, and 21 to determine the biochemical parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while the liver and kidneys of the experimental animals were harvested for histopathological examinations at the end of the treatment. Results: The acute toxicity studies showed no toxicity up to 5000mg/kg of the extract. Treatment with the extract showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the weight of the rats when compared with the control. A Significant decrease (p≤0.05) was observed in total bilirubin concentration and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity of the treated groups when compared with the control group while Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity showed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in some of the treated groups. The microscopic examination of the liver and kidney tissues showed no histopathological changes in the extract-treated groups. Conclusion: The observed results showed that unfermented Theobroma cacao is rich in antioxidants and has little or no toxicological effect on albino rats.