Evaluation of Haematinic Activity and Subchronic Toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) Seed Oil

Aim: The haematinic activity and subchronic toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) seed oil was evaluated and compared with the control.
Materials and Methods: In acute toxicity study the animals tolerated up to 16 g/kg body weight (bw) of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 solution administered orally after 24 hrs fast. Another set of mice (6 per group) fasted for 24 hrs were administered with the extract intra-peritoneal (IP) at different doses (250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg bw) until 100% mortality was achieved. In subchronic toxicity study, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg bw of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 were administered on the animals for 120 days.
Results: In acute toxicity study, the extract was found to be non toxic when it was administered orally for up to 16 g/kg bw within 24 hrs. Subchronic toxicity test showed no mortality after 120 days of oral administration. The animals showed appreciable increase in feeding habit and water intake. Increase in body and vital organs weights occurred while tissue histology showed no abnormal features. The liver function profile showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) compared to the control except for the albumin that increased markedly. The extract led to significant increase (p < 0.05) in RBC. The packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin count (Hb) increased with increase in dose. On the other hand, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and white blood cells (WBC), did not vary markedly. Similarly, WBC differentials did not record appreciable difference compared to the control.
Conclusion: The result showed that SJ seed oil possessed haematinic and hepato-protective property thereby justifying its therapeutic use in traditional medicine.