| Summary: | This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Trema orientalis (ELETO) in goats fed with commercial goat pellets and Nappier grass twice daily. Meanwhile, water was given ad libitum. The clinical signs, variations in haemato-biochemical parameters, gross and microscopic changes in the major vital organs were used as indices of the toxicity. The severity of the gross and microscopic changes in the liver was evaluated by scoring technique. An in-vitro preliminary phytochemical screening test was conducted on the ELETO. Twenty goats weighing between 15 and 20 kg were divided into four groups with five goats in each group, in a completely randomized design. The test groups I, II, III were given ELETO dissolved in 1% dimethysulfoxide (DMSO) orally at the dosages of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg/day, respectively for 14 days. Group IV served as control and received 1% DMSO only. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract confirmed the presence of saponin, tannin, steroid and flavonoid. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocytes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, urea, total bilirubin, sodium, potassium, and chloride were similar (P > 0.05) in all groups. There were significant decreased (P < 0.05) of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HB) and red blood cell count (RBC) of group III with values 15.48 + 1.89 %, 8.06 + 0.93 g/L and 9.27 + 2.19 x 106/mm3, respectively compared to the control group with value 22.80 + 2.97%, 10.10 + 0.89 g/L, 13.21 + 1.87 x 106/mm3. The PCV and RBC in the group III were also significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to the groups I with values 22.68 + 3.48 % and 13.45 + 2.37 x 106/mm3, respectively. Meanwhile the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, granulocytes, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the group III with values 7.76 + 1.58 pg, 47.78 + 13.37%, 52.13 + 11.92 U/L and 84.40 + 15.48 U/L were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the control group with values 5.25 + 1.21 pg, 24.12 + 2.22%, 25.02 + 6.43 and 62.14 + 5.50 U/L, respectively. Weight of goats of group III significant decreased (P < 0.05) compared to group IV. Rectal tenesmus, apathy, inappetance, and bilateral reddening and seromucoid discharge in the eyes where observed in group III whereas, and group II showed mild signs of rectal tenesmus, apathy and inappetance. Mild to moderate gross lesions observed included; liver congestion, haemorrhages, icteric liver, and engorgement of the gallbladder. Microscopically, centrilobular vacuolation, fatty degeneration and necrosis were observed mainly in group III. Our studies showed that oral administration of ELETO at 2.0mg/kg/day for 14 days causes anaemia and mild to moderate hepatocellular injury in goats.
|
|---|