Anthocleista grandiflora

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.

This study evaluated the effect of methanol leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on lipid profile parameters in Wistar rats following 28 days of sub-chronic oral administration. The plant commonly known as the “Giant African Cabbage Tree,” has long been used in traditional medicine for managing fever, jaundice, and metabolic disorders. Despite its wide ethnomedicinal use, scientific validation of its lipid-modulating potential remains limited. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of five animals each. The control group received distilled water, while the experimental groups were administered 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of methanol leaf extract daily for 28 days. Serum samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) using standard spectrophotometric methods. The results showed no statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences between treated and control groups for all lipid parameters. Mean cholesterol values ranged from 78.00 ± 3.07 to 85.60 ± 3.28 mg/dL, triglycerides from 77.60 ± 4.52 to 90.00 ± 8.83 mg/dL, HDL from 24.20 ± 0.97 to 27.60 ± 1.36 mg/dL, and LDL from 34.20 ± 4.98 to 43.60 ± 3.85 mg/dL. The slight elevation in HDL with a concurrent reduction in LDL at higher doses indicates a potential cardioprotective and hypolipidaemic effect of the extract. These findings suggest that A. grandiflora did not disrupt lipid metabolism but may support lipid balance through its antioxidant phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins, and phenolics. Overall, the methanol leaf extract of A. grandiflora demonstrated safety and mild lipid-regulating potential during sub-chronic exposure, validating its traditional use in promoting cardiovascular and metabolic health

Anthocleista grandiflora has a history of traditional herbal use and has been reported to possess a wide range of therapeutic properties. This current study aimed to explore the effect of chronic administration of a methanol seed extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on the biochemical indicators of renal function in male rats. For this study, twenty male rats were randomly divided into four groups, each consisting of five rats. The extract was administered orally at doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of body weight for a duration of 28 days. The kidney was harvested and processed histologically and blood samples were taken for biochemical assays. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA with Graph Pad Prism. The findings revealed that there were no significant differences in the sum of the means of all the parameters measured across the groups (P>0.05) when compared with control. Based on the absence of elevated urea and creatinine levels in the blood and the absence of any abnormalities in the histological examination of kidney tissues across all treatment groups, it can be inferred that Anthocleista grandiflora, administered at varying doses over a four-week period, does not appear to have any adverse effects on kidney function.

Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional African medicine for managing kidney-related ailments, largely due to their rich phytochemical compositions and therapeutic potential. This study investigated the effects of methanol leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on renal and electrolyte parameters in Wistar rats. A. grandiflora, a member of the Gentianaceae family, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic properties attributed to its bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, iridoids, saponins, and tannins. Fresh leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control and three treatment groups receiving 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the extract orally for 28 days. Biochemical parameters including urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were analyzed using standard diagnostic methods. Results indicated no statistically significant (p > 0.05) alterations in serum urea and creatinine concentrations across all groups, suggesting that the extract did not impair renal excretory function or protein metabolism. Similarly, electrolyte values remained within normal physiological limits, confirming the maintenance of acid–base balance and tubular integrity. Slight fluctuations in sodium and potassium were non-dose-dependent and within safe reference ranges. The extract demonstrated renal safety and stability across the measured biochemical parameters. The findings imply that methanol leaf extract of A. grandiflora exerts no nephrotoxic effects and may instead support renal homeostasis through its antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing mechanisms. These results validate its ethnomedicinal use in managing renal and urinary disorders and support its potential as a safe natural therapeutic agent for kidney protection. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive constituents responsible for its renoprotective effects.

The plant commonly known as the forest fever tree has been widely used in African traditional medicine for treating fever, jaundice, malaria, and liver-related disorders. Its hepatoprotective potential is attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and saponins. The study investigated the effect of methanol leaf extract of Anthocleista grandiflora on liver enzyme activities in Wistar rats. Fresh leaves were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using methanol. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rats each. The control group received distilled water, while the other groups were administered 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract daily for 28 days. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined as biomarkers of hepatic function using standard diagnostic methods. The results revealed no statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences between treated and control groups. ALT values ranged from 80.40 ± 3.79 to 101.40 ± 6.39 U/L, AST from 157.60 ± 4.33 to 169.40 ± 2.73 U/L, and ALP from 373.20 ± 19.78 to 451.00 ± 67.33 U/L. These results indicate that the methanol leaf extract of A. grandiflora did not induce hepatotoxicity at the tested doses. The stability of liver enzyme levels within normal physiological limits suggests that the extract maintained hepatic integrity and may possess hepatoprotective properties. The observed effects are attributed to the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals that prevent lipid peroxidation, stabilize hepatocyte membranes, and enhance cellular defense mechanisms. These findings support the traditional use of A. grandiflora in managing liver ailments and demonstrate its potential as a safe natural therapeutic agent. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive constituents responsible for its hepatoprotective action