EFFECT OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Anthocleista grandiflora ON WEEKLY WEIGHT CHANGES OF RATS TREATED SUB-CHRONICALLY

The study investigated the sub-chronic effects of methanol leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on the weekly body weight and organ weight indices of Wistar rats. A. grandiflora, commonly known as the Giant African Cabbage Tree, is widely used in African traditional medicine for treating malaria, liver disorders, and metabolic diseases. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal applications, limited toxicological data exist regarding its long-term physiological effects. Fresh leaves of A. grandiflora were extracted with methanol, and twenty male Wistar rats were orally administered graded doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight for 28 days, with a control group receiving distilled water. Weekly body weight measurements and post-treatment organ weights (liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, and testes) were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA with significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results showed no significant adverse effect on body or organ weights across all doses compared to control, suggesting that the methanol extract did not induce major systemic toxicity under the experimental conditions. The observed stable weight progression and normal organ-to-body weight ratios indicate a relatively safe toxicological profile of A. grandiflora at the tested doses. The findings support its ethnomedicinal use and provide baseline data for further biochemical and histopathological safety evaluations.