The Toxicity Evaluation of Phragmanthera incana (Klotzsch) Growing on Two Plant Hosts and Its Effect on Wistar Rats’ Haematology and Serum Biochemistry

Various studies on Phragmanthera incana (mistletoe) did not intensify toxicity. Toxicological evaluation of Phragmanthera incana, a species of mistletoe growing on two plant hosts namely Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and Kolanut (Cola nitida) in South-western Nigeria was carried out with the observation of Wistar rats’ haematological and serum biochemical changes for a period of thirty-day administration. Acute toxicity and sub chronic toxicity tests were carried out using standard methods. Only female Wistar rats of average weight 150g were used. In acute toxicity, rats were administered orally with methanolic extract of Phragmanthera incana using 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000mg/kg doses respectively, while observations were made over a period of twenty – four hours to seven days. However, for sub chronic toxicity tests on methanolic extract of the mistletoe harvested from cocoa and kolanut were also administered orally to female rats using 200, 400, 600 and 800mg/kg doses observed for thirty days. Haematological studies and serum biochemical analysis were carried out on the blood samples of each of the rats. The results showed that the mistletoe species “Phragmanthera incana” is relatively safe for use as there was no death recorded for both the acute and subchronic toxicity tests. Though, caution should be taken in its administration as there were records some adverse health conditions in the subchronic toxicity tests especially with the higher doses. The haematological parameters analysed were packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocytes and eosinophils. Serum biochemical parameters analysed were total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, alanine phosphate, triglyceride, glucose, bilirubin, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. Statistical analysis was carried out on the results of these parameters to check for their significance.