Title : Subacute toxicity of cryptolepis sanguinolenta leaves aqueous extract in sprague dawley rat model

Background: C. sanguinolenta is traditionally used in treating malaria due to its phytochemical richness. This study evaluated the effects of C. sanguinolenta leaves aqueous extract on haematological, hepatic, and renal parameters in a Sprague Dawley rat model. The hypothesis was that some phytochemicals present in the leaves of C. sanguinolenta are cytotoxic and may cause damage to normal body cells at higher concentrations.

Methods: The extract was prepared by boiling C. sanguinolenta leaves, and the crude extract was freeze-dried. Twenty-five mature Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups of five and orally administered with the extract: 5ml distilled water (control), 250, 500,1000 and 2000 mg/kg for 21 days. Complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, were done to assess the subacute toxicity.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of high amounts of alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenols. The study revealed a significant increase in aspartate transaminase at 250 mg/kg, total proteins at 250, 500, and 1000mg/kg, gamma-glutamyl transferase and total bilirubin at 2000 mg/kg.

Conclusion and Significance: The study showed no significant renal and haematological toxicity; however, selective hepatic toxicity was observed which suggest a favourable safety profile for the extract, supporting its traditional use and safe integration into conventional drug development.

Keywords: Subacute toxicity, Phytochemical, histopathology

Francis Kodua is a first-class biochemistry graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and currently serving as a biomedical research assistant at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine under the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research Group where he aspires to advance his expertise in infectious disease drug discovery and development.