Toxicological assessment of abeere seed ( Huntaria umbellata K . Schum )

Thirty age-matched healthy adult male New Zealand white rabbits (2.0 ± 0.5kg BW) were randomly divided into six groups (four treatment and two control groups). The treatment groups were given intraperitoneal injection of either 0.5ml or 1.0ml liquid extract of abeere seed or the alcoholic extract (w/v) and examined for 14 days. The effect of the seed extracts on the haematological parameters, selected enzymes, liver function and body weights of the affected rabbits were analysed. There was a shift in the leukocyte population towards lymphocytes in the rabbits treated with extracts of abeere seed and a reduction in neutrophylls. An enhancement in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in rabbits exposed to 0.5ml liquid extract of abeere was observed. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the histology of major organs and body weights of test and control rabbits. Departments of 1Microbiology, 2Botany, and 3Anatomy, University of Benin, PMB 1154. Benin City, Nigeria.