RÉSUMÉ
Garcinia kola is commonly consumed in Nigeria in social ceremonies, while Garlic is commonly used as a spice in the preparation of certain foods. In this study, the protective effects of extracts of the plants against a high salt diet (8% NaCl) induced hypertension were investigated in rats. Extracts prepared from the plants were subjected to phytochemical screening for acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in rats. In the protective study against salt-induced hypertension thirty-five adult male rats assigned to seven groups of five rats were treated such that, group one served as the normal control group, and group two was the hypertensive control group. Groups three to six were administered graded doses of extracts respectively after induction. While group seven received a combination of the two extracts after induction. Treatment commenced after confirmation of hypertension and lasted for two weeks before animals were sacrificed to collect blood for biochemical and haematological analysis. Results obtained showed that G.kola and Garlic feeding produced in rats following liver and haematological assays as values of these parameters in the test groups did not significantly differ from control values (p<0.05).
RÉSUMÉ
Background: Curcuma longa Linn (turmeric) is a common medicinal plant used in Africa for the treatment of diseases. In this study, its extract was evaluated to ascertain its phytochemical composition and toxicity in wistar rats. Methods: The prepared rhizome ethanol extract was first subjected to preliminary phytochemical evaluation and then lethal dose (LD50) test. In the sub-acute toxicity test, 20 adult wistar rats assigned to 4 groups of 5 rats each were administered oral graded doses of the extract. Group 1 served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 received 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract over a period of 28 days, after which blood samples were collected for haematological and serum biochemical analyses. Results: Results obtained from the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids in extract, with alkaloids being most abundant (41.20+0.53 mg/100g) and terpenoids, the least (3.98+0.03 mg/100g). Lethal dose value for the extract was found to be >5000mg/kg body weight. Results of sub-acute toxicity evaluation of the extract showed no deleterious effect on liver and kidney function parameters with these parameters being not significantly different from their control values (p<0.05). Treatment with the extract also caused significant hypolipidemia (p<0.05) but increased the values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and red blood cell counts were also significantly increased following treatment with the extract, especially at higher dose levels. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that C. longa extract may be safe for use in the treatment of diseases when administered via the oral route.