ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are presently in demand, and their acceptance is increasing progressively; hence, plants with ethnomedicinal values are currently screened for their therapeutic potential and safety profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biosafety of polyherbal-formulated tea (Anthocleista djalonensis, Musa paradisiaca, Mucuna pruiens, Thespesia garckeana and Curcuma longa). An acute toxicity investigation was carried out utilizing Lorke’s methodology with minimal changes. In a subacute investigation, 20 albino rats were put into 4 groups of 5 rats in each group. Group 1 received distilled water; groups 2, 3, and 4 received 0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/kg of an aqueous extract of polyherbal tea, respectively, orally for 28 days. The animals were sacrificed using chloroform anesthesia, blood was collected for hematological and biochemical investigation, and the tissues were preserved for histological inspection. The LD50 was indeterminable since there was no death at the greatest dose of 10 g/kg. The polyherbalformulated tea at 0.25 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 1 g/kg increased the weight of the albino rats at weeks 3 and 4 when compared to the control (P < 0.05). The polyherbal drug has no effect on the organ-to-body weight ratio when compared to the control (P > 0.05). The tea at 0.25 g/kg reduced platelet levels when compared to the control (P < 0.05). The tea did not affect any other hematology parameters (P > 0.05). The polyherbal formulated at 0.25 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 1 g/kg significantly reduced Alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphate, and total cholesterol when compared to the control (P < 0.05). All other parameters were unaffected. (P > 0.05). The histological result shows normal features of the kidney, heart, lungs, and spleen. However, the liver shows the feature of steatosis. In conclusion, the polyherbal-formulated tea is safe, has the ability to stimulate appetite, and may possess hepatoprotective, cardio protective, and nephroprotective activity.
