Toxicological eff ects of aqueous extract of Cnestis ferruginea (Vahl ex DC) root in paroxetine-induced sexually impaired male rats

Abstract

Musa Toyin Yakubu, Quadri Olaide Nurudeen

Aim: The effects of aqueous extract of Cnestis ferruginea (Vahl ex DC) root on some function indices and histology of the liver and kidney of sexually impaired male rats were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Male rats (156.24 ± 3.22 g) were randomized into six Groups (A-F) of five animals each. Rats in Group A (negative control) received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water while animals in Groups B, C, D, E, and F were induced with sexual dysfunction (p.o 10 mg/kg of the paroxetine hydrochloride suspension in Tween-80) and in addition received orally 0.5 ml each of distilled water and the same volume corresponding to 7.14 mg/kg body weight of PowmaxM (reference herbal drug) and 13, 26, and 52 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively once, for 5 days. Results: The extract and PowmaxM significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels of serum albumin, globulins, conjugated bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, and activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the liver, kidney, and serum, kidney and serum acid phosphatase (ACP) and liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of the animals. The levels of serum total bilirubin, urea, uric acid, creatinine, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, liver aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and AST/ALT ratio increased in all the treatment groups while serum sodium ions and AST activity were not significantly (P > 0.05) altered. There were dose specific alterations on liver ACP activity. The decrease in the activity of liver AST was accompanied by corresponding increase in the serum enzyme. There was no treatment-related histo-architectural changes in the organs of the animals. Conclusion: Overall, the extract aggravated (by synergism) the functional toxicity in the animals with no corresponding structural toxicity and, therefore, not completely “safe” as an oral remedy for sexual inadequacies in male rats