Acute toxicity of the methanolic extracts of Terminalia brownii bark in rats

This study was designed to reveal the toxicopathological effects of the methanolic extract of the bark of Terminalia brownie in Swiss albino rats. The methanolic extracts of the bark were given at doses rate of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg (group 1, 2 and 3 respectively) body weight to Swiss albino rats. Oral administration of the extracts caused symptoms such as dullness, inappetence and decreased activity in group 2 and 3 rats. The mean values of haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell counts (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased in the three treated groups. Serum analysis indicated no changes in the activity of the enzyme alanine amino transferase (ALT) or the concentration of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, total protein, and total albumin in the sera of all treated rats during the course of the experiment. However, there was an increase in the activity of the enzyme aspartate amino transferase (AST) in the sera of group 3 and 4 rats. The main lesions found were congestion and hemorrhage in the liver, kidney, lung, stomach and small intestine.