Phytochemical Screening of the Dried Leaf Extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and Associated Changes in Liver Enzymes Induced by its Administration in Wistar Rats

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Euphorbiaceae) is used traditionally for the treatment of many disease conditions in Nigeria. So far, no safety studies have been carried out with this plant. This study attempts to determine the phytochemical constituents of the plants leaf extract as well as examination of its effect on some liver enzymes. Results show no significant difference (p>0.05) between the control and the Cnidoscolus aconitifolius administered rats (at doses of 100, 300, 500 and 800 mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks) with respect to the changes in body weight as well as in the liver enzymes analyzed in serum. The non-toxic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic plant extracts were also confirmed by histological studies. Phytochemical investigation of both the (dry) aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius shows the presence alkaloids, tannins, phlobatannin, saponin and phenols. Phlobatannin and saponin were found in appreciable amounts in the aqueous extract than the ethanolic extract. While cardiac glycosides were only positive and present in the aqueous extract only. The ethanolic extract was found to contain flavonoids, anthraquinones, steroids, terpenes. These were not found in the aqueous extract. From this study, it may be concluded that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius showed absence of cumulative toxicity as reflected by the non-significant changes in the parameters studied as well as from the results of the histological investigation.