ROSE IMADE

Vernonia amygdalina Delile (bitter leaf) and Spondias mombin Linn (hog plum) are medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile, phytochemical constituents and toxicological effects of these extracts in Female Wistar rats. Ethanol extract of both plants were collected, authenticated and prepared. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted revealing the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, phenolic compounds, steroids/triterpenes, saponins and cardiac glycosides, with a notable absence of cyanogenic glycosides. Sub-acute assessment on Female Wistar rats were carried out following oral gavage of the extracts at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg doses for 28 days. The V. amygdalina extract demonstrated high systemic tolerance, with all doses maintaining stable blood, liver, and kidney functions. It exhibited beneficial immunomodulatory effects, specifically activating the spleen and mobilizing lung defense mechanisms. Meanwhile, a mild liver inflammation (portal hepatitis) was observed exclusively at the 200 mg dose. Conversely, S. mombin extract presented a safety paradox: standard blood tests suggested it was systemically protective (reduced AST/ALT and Urea), yet histopathology study revealed toxicity. This toxicity manifested as destructive localized damage, including ulceration of the coronary arteries and bronchioles, making the extract critically unsafe for internal consumption. This research validates V. amygdalina as a safe, systemic immunomodulator within the tested dose range. While S. mombin presented a safety paradox. The findings strongly necessitate the mandatory integration of detailed histopathology into regulatory safety screening protocols for traditional plant medicines to detect latent, life-threatening organ toxicity that standard blood tests can miss

Vernonia amygdalina Delile (bitter leaf) and Spondias mombin Linn (hog plum) are medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile, phytochemical constituents and toxicological effects of these extracts in Female Wistar rats. Ethanol extract of both plants were collected, authenticated and prepared. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted revealing the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, phenolic compounds, steroids/triterpenes, saponins and cardiac glycosides, with a notable absence of cyanogenic glycosides. Sub-acute assessment on Female Wistar rats were carried out following oral gavage of the extracts at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg doses for 28 days. The V. amygdalina extract demonstrated high systemic tolerance, with all doses maintaining stable blood, liver, and kidney functions. It exhibited beneficial immunomodulatory effects, specifically activating the spleen and mobilizing lung defense mechanisms. Meanwhile, a mild liver inflammation (portal hepatitis) was observed exclusively at the 200 mg dose. Conversely, S. mombin extract presented a safety paradox: standard blood tests suggested it was systemically protective (reduced AST/ALT and Urea), yet histopathology study revealed toxicity. This toxicity manifested as destructive localized damage, including ulceration of the coronary arteries and bronchioles, making the extract critically unsafe for internal consumption. This research validates V. amygdalina as a safe, systemic immunomodulator within the tested dose range. While S. mombin presented a safety paradox. The findings strongly necessitate the mandatory integration of detailed histopathology into regulatory safety screening protocols for traditional plant medicines to detect latent, life-threatening organ toxicity that standard blood tests can miss.

Carica papaya is a widely recognized medicinal plant commonly employed in traditional medicine for the management of diverse health conditions. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and sub-acute toxicological effects of C. papaya leaf ethanol extract in female Wistar rats. The leaves were collected, authenticated, and subjected to qualitative phytochemicai screening, which revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, cyanogenic glycosides, and anthraquinones, while tannins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, and triterpenes were absent. For the toxicological assessment, rats were orally administered C. papaya leaf extract at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Hematological analysis indicated mild modulation of immune parameters, with dose-dependent decreases in WBC and lymphocyte counts and increased neutrophils, while RBC indices remained stable. Biochemical assays revealed no significant alterations in renal (urea, creatinine) and liver (AST, ALT, ALP,bilirubin) markers, and serum protein levels were unaffected. Electrolyte profiles showed minor changes in potassium and bicarbonate levels without evidence of overt toxicity. Histopathological evaluation of major organs, including liver, kidney, spleen,lungs, heart, and uterus, demonstrated preserved architecture, with only minor adaptive cellular changes, such as slight hepatocyte enlargement and increased lymphoid follicle size in the spleen. Overall, sub-acute administration of C. papaya leaf ethanol extract at the tested doses exhibited no severe toxicity, suggesting that it is generally safe and may confer protective effects on multiple organ systems. These xii findings provide scientific support for the traditional use of C. papaya and warrant further pharmacological investigation

Annona muricata (soursop) is commonly used in traditional medicine, necessitating toxicological evaluation. This study evaluated the safety profile, phytochemical constituents, and physiological effects of the ethanol leaf extract of A. muricata in adult female Wistar rats after administering doses of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg for 28 days. Phytochemical screening confirmed a rich composition of carbohydrates, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenolics, and steroids/triterpenes, with a notable absence of saponins and cyanogenic glycosides. Hematological analysis demonstrated overall safety of red cell indices, but revealed a reduction in WBC count at 100mg/kg (p<0.05), suggesting immune modulation that was histologically corroborated by lymphoid activation. Biochemically, the extract conferred significant hepatoprotection, evidenced by a marked reduction in AST and ALT at 200mg/kg. In addition, the extract exhibited hypolipidemic effect, with optimal reductions in Total Cholesterol and LDL observed exclusively at 100mg/kg. The primary cautionary finding was a functional elevation of Creatinine at 200mg/kg (p<0.05), though this occurred without structural renal damage.