effect of administration of root ethanolic extract of aristolochia ringens on the liver functional indices of male wistar rats

background: the alcoholic decoction of root ethanolic extract of aristolochia ringens is taken orally to treat various ailments in south-west nigeria without prior knowledge of its potential toxic effect. therefore, this study aimed at assessing the toxicity potentials of root ethanolic extract of a. ringens on functional indices and histology of the liver. methods: twenty male rats were randomized into four groups of five animals each. group a (control) received 0.5 ml of distilled water, group b, c and d received 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg b. wt. of the extract respectively. the administration was done orally and lasted for fourteen days. results: the extract significantly reduced the activities of alkaline phosphatase (alp), alanine aminotransferase (alt), aspartate aminotransferase (ast), gamma glutamyl transferase (ggt) as well as reduction in the level of serum albumin and direct bilirubin (p<0.05) while the level of total bilirubin increased. the activities of these enzymes i.e. alp, alt and ast increased in the serum at all the doses investigated. conclusion: ethanolic extract from a. ringens root may not be completely safe when administered repeatedly.