Note Hepatotoxic Activity of Sacoglottis gabonensis in rats

Abstract

Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baillon) Urb. (Humiriaceae) is used as a palm wine additive in Nigeria. When a saline extract was administered to rats at i.p. doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight, serum enzymes indicative of liver damage were elavated in a dose-dependant manner. Histological examination of the livers of the treated animals showed mild sinusoidal dilatation and early necrosis (125 mg/kg) or moderate sinusoidal dilatation and congestion with focal hepatocyte necrosis (250 mg/kg). These results showed that the bark extract of Sacoglottis gabonensis is hepatotoxic.