The Toxicological Studies of Securidaca longepedunculata on the Heart, Liver, Kidney and Lungs of Rats

Securidaca lonpedunculata is a savannah plant widely distributed in Africa. The plant has a reputation of broad spectrum of medicinal, pharmacological and therapeutic properties, it is reported that almost all parts of the plant are used by man for different ailments. Our investigation examined the histopathologic effects of the methanol root extract of S. longepedunculata on the kidney, liver, lungs and the heart. Wister albino rats weighing 170 to 200 g were given 0.56, 0.28, and 0.14 mg/kg (i.p.) respectively of the extract daily for 60 days and then sacrificed. The methanol extract gave an LD50 value of 2.8 mg/kg (i.p.) and histological examinations revealed that in the kidneys, there was intense vascular congestion with kupfer cells hyperplasia, similar changes were observed in the liver showing slight hepatic necrosis and lymphocyte hyperplasia. The histological changes resemble those produced by chronic ethanol and paracetamol ingestion suggesting the presence of toxic constituents. Hence, the use of S. longepedunculata may be associated with tissue structural damage of some vital organs.