Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). Hochst, popularly known as Morula, is a plant in the Anacardiaceae family. The bark, fruits, and leaves have traditionally been used to manage a variety of health conditions, most especially diabetes. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of data and publications on the toxicity and safety of this plant. PURPOSE: The current study was designed to assess the acute and chronic toxicity of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea in albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sclerocarya birrea was extracted using an 80-20% hydro-ethanolic solution. For the acute toxicity study, female Wistar albino rats were treated with hydro-ethanolic leaf extract at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight and followed-up for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, 40 healthy Wistar albino rats were divided in 4 groups. The three treatment groups were administered the leaf hydro-ethanolic extract orally at dosages of 30, 150, and 1000 mg/kg once day for 90 days and the fourth group was a control group. Body and organs weights, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Single-dose oral administration of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sclerocarya birrea at 5000 mg/kg produced no mortality indicating the LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Following 90 days of administration of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea leaves, there was no significant change in body and organs weights. Furthermore, biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters did not vary significantly. CONCLUSION: This data indicates neither acute or chronic toxicity in rats and is consistent with the widespread and long-term usage of Sclerocarya birrea in African traditional medicine.