Sub-acute toxicity effects of <i>Garcinia kola</i> on serum electrolytes, haematological, visceral organ weights and histopathological profiles in Wistar rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity effects of root extract of G. kola on serum electrolyte, haematological and histological parameters of rats. Rats of both sexes were randomized into groups and orally administered daily with determined doses of G. kola extract using distilled water as a control for 21 days. On the 22nd day, all the animals were sacrificed and dissected to collect blood and selected organs. The serum and whole blood were assayed for serum electrolytes and haematological parameters respectively while selected organs were examined for their weight and histopathological lesions. The extract of G. kola did not cause significant alteration in majority of the serum electrolytes and hematological indices. However, the extract significantly elevated the mean corpuscular heamoglobin concentration. On the other hand, the extract reduced mean corpuscular volume, haematocrit (150 and 600 mg/kg), mean platelet volume (150 and 600 mg/kg) and procalcitonin (150 mg/kg). In the vital organs, there were no significant lesions observed except at the highest dose. The root extract of G. kola is relatively safe in rats when repetitively administered orally in small doses for a prolonged period of time to ensure that its use is free of toxicity to humans.