The Pharmacobiochemical Effects of Ethanol Extract of Justicia secunda Vahl Leaves in Rattus Norvegicus

Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the biochemical effects of ethanol leaves extract on Wistar rats and also shed light on its constituents and phytonutrients.

Methods

The ethanolic extract of J. secunda leaves was prepared using conventional methods. Then, proximate and phytochemical analyses of the extracts were carried out using several methods previously reported in the literatures. The biochemical studies were also carried out as reported in previous literatures.

Results

The ethanolic leaves extract contains appreciable quantities of phytonutrients and micronutrients as well as phytochemical constituents. The LD₅₀ of the extract was determined to be 3800mg/kg body weight. There was a dose-dependent elevation of the blood sugar in comparison with the control. There was no significant increase on the bilirubin and liver enzymes levels or on the haematological parameters of the lab animals. The extract significantly elevated the lipid profile (P value < 0.0001), the glomerular filtration rate (increased creatinine and blood urea levels – P value < 0.0001), the serum electrolytes and the animals’ weight. There was a significant decrease in the anion gap (P value < 0.01).

Conclusion

The ethanol leaf extract of Justicia secunda has negative cardiac and renal effects on Wistar rats, causing increased lipid profile values, creatinine and blood urea levels in the experimental animals compared with control. The LD₅₀ is below the safety level. Caution should be exercised as the biochemical profiles of cardiac and renal effects do not seem to be promising and the LD₅₀ is below the safety level.

Keywords:

• liver function
• kidney function
• cardiac function
• serum electrolytes
• Justicia secunda

Abbreviations

FC, Folin Ciocalteu; GAE, Gallic Acid equivalents; UK, United Kingdom; AOAC, The Association of Official Analytical Chemists; AAS, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer; APHA, The American Public Health Association; LD_50, Median Lethal Dose; LLD, Least Lethal Dose; HNL, Highest None Lethal Dose; ANOVA, Analysis of Variance.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Mbazulike Akwuba for taking time to authenticate the leaves used in the study. The authors also wish to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Rebecca Ashfield of Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom who painstakingly did copy-editing of the entire manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study received no external funding and is part of the Master of Science thesis of AHO.