AN EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND SUBCHRONIC TOXICITIES OF A NIGERIAN POLYHERBAL ANTIDIABETIC REMEDY

The acute and subchronic toxicities of Nigerian polyherbal antidiabetic remedy, prepared from Gongrenema latifolium and Allium cepa (1:1) leaves was investigated in Swiss albino mice and rats of both sexes. For acute toxicity study, 1000-5000mg/kg of the combined extract were administered orally to rats and observed for 24 hours for obvious toxic symptoms and mortality. The median lethal dose of the combined extract (LD₅₀) was estimated. In subchronic study, 1000-4000mg/kg of the combined extracts were orally administered daily for 90 days. Weight changes and selected biochemical and hematological parameters were determined periodically. At the end of the experiment, the liver tissues were harvested for histopathological examination. The estimated LD₅₀ of the combined extracts was above 5000mg/kg. There was no sign of weakness, anorexia and no significant reduction in body weight. There were non- significant (p>0.05) effects on hemoglobin concentration and PCV. There were transient significant (p<0.05) increases in ALT and AST. Liver cells photomicrographs at the 91^st day showed slight changes in histo-architecture of the hepatocytes at 4000mg/kg. These results suggest that combined aqueous extracts of Gongrenema latifolium and Allium cepa  (1:1) is safe in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.