CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HYDRO-ALCOHOL ROOT EXTRACT OF Rauwolfia vomitoria AFZEL, (APOCYNACEAE) IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HYDRO-ALCOHOL ROOT EXTRACT OF Rauwolfia vomitoria AFZEL, (APOCYNACEAE) IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

VALENTINE OMOLOLU ADEGOKE1*, GERALD IKECHI EZE2, EMEKA ASOGWA3, OLUWAKANYINSOLA ADEOLA SALAWU4, RAYMOND IDUOJEMU OZOLUA5

  1. National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria.
  2. Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria.
  3. Central Research Laboratory, Ilorin, Kwara State.
  4. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
  5. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria.

Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 18(1): 485-496    ; 2026

ABSTRACT

Herbal recipes containing R. vomitoria Afze (Apocynaceae) and its extracts are used in herbal medicine for the treatment of several ailments including sickle cell disease. The study evaluated chemical composition, and effects of hydro-alcohol extract of R. vomitoria root (HAE) on body weight and cellular architecture of target organs in albino wistar rats. High performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting of HAE was carried out, followed by subacute toxicity testing and weight monitoring of study animals at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day of HAE for 14 days. Alkaloids, flavonoid, phenolics and saponins were present in HAE. The repeated administration of HAE at 250 and 500 mg/kg/day was associated with significant (p<0.05) reduction of body weight. Histologically, all tested doses increased blood flow to all the organs compared to the control, and without abnormality in cellular architecture.The HAE appears safe at low doses but repeated administration of high doses needs further safety evaluation.

Keywords: Rauwolfia vomitoria, chemical composition, histological, toxicity.

Email of correspondence: valadegoke@gmail.com; 

https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2026.1.9                           ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)

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