The present study deals with the toxicological investigations of chronic treatment with
methanol root extract of Clerodendrum myricoides on
body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, and liver and kidney tissue sections. Mice treated with 100mg/kg bw/day of
methanol extract showed no behavioral changes. However, there was a general reduction of activity in mice treated with 400mg/kg bw/day
methanol extract and LD50 treated mice showed hypoactivity, grooming, prostration, piloroerection and irritation during administration towards the last days of the treatment period. The
body weight gain difference in the 100mg/kg bw/day
methanol extract treated group was not significant, while those of the others were significant as compared with the controls. Hematological results for the RBC count, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC in
methanol extract treated mice showed no significant changes at both doses of treatments as compared with the controls. However, the value of lymphocytes was found significantly increased at 100 and 400mg/kg bw/day
methanol extract. Similarly, HGB was significantly increased at 100 and 400mg/kg bw/day of
methanol extract treated groups. On the other hand, WBC and platelets count were significantly decreased
after treatment with 400mg/kg bw/day
methanol extract. ALT, ALP, AST and
urea values were significantly increased respectively at 100mg/kg bw/day and 400mg/kg bw/day
methanol extract. Several histopathological changes of liver and kidney were observed in the extract treated mice as compared to the controls. Such histopathological changes observed in both liver and kidneys were
inflammations and hydropic degenerations of hepatocytes at both doses of
methanol. In addition, in the LD50 treated mice of the extracts there were also
hemorrhages and signs in congestion of glomeruli of the kidney.
CONCLUSION: chronic treatment with Clerodendrum myricoides extracts in mice causes reduction in
body weight gain, damage to liver & kidney and changes in some hematological & biochemical parameters. It is therefore, suggested that further studies are needed for minimization of the observed side effects, while maintaining the claimed medicinal values of the extract.