HEPATORENAL-TOXICITY EVALUATION OF ATIKPA®: A COMMERCIAL POLYHERBAL POISON ANTIDOTE IN NIGERIA
Ihekwereme CP1*, Obonga W2, Nworu CS3, Ezea SC4, Nnadi AI2, Mbagwu IS1
1- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 420281 Anambra State, Nigeria
2-Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
3-Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
4-Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
May-June 2015; Vol. 7 (issue 1): 31-36
ABSTRACT
The consuming public considers herbal medicines safe and uses them without caution. Atikpa® is a popular herbal preparation used traditionally as a purgative in the treatment of ingested poisons. This work used animal models to investigate the safety of Atikpa® on the kidney and liver. The preparation was dispersed in 2 % crystalline methylcellulose and administered to albino rats at doses of 100, 125 and 150 mg/kg. The mean body weight, food and water intake and gross behavior of the animals as well as some biochemical indices of liver and kidney toxicity were monitored. The results of the study showed that the herbal preparation did not significantly [P>0.05] increase mean body weight. Differences in food and water intake between the treated and control animals were not dose-dependent. Acute toxicity study showed that the herbal preparation is moderately toxic [LD50 = 224.9 mg/kg]. Biochemical findings also revealed that the preparation induced a dose-related elevation of liver enzymes, SGPT and SGOT. The elevation was significant [P<0.001] at 150 mg/kg. There was also a significant [P<0.05] increase in serum urea level at 150 mg/kg. These results indicate a hepatic and renal toxic potential of Atikpa® when used for treatment of health subjects. This study highlights the need for pre-clinical toxicity assessment as well as post-marketing surveillance of the numerous herbal preparations used in our ethno medicine.
KEYWORDS- Atikpa®, Hepatic toxicity, Polyherbal medicine, Renal toxicity