ABSTRACT
The plant Alchonea laxiflora is a tiny, flaky-barked deciduous tree or shrub. In ethnomedicine, the leaves of A. laxiflora are used to treat neurological and cardiovascular conditions like anxiety, sleeplessness, and hypertension. The main aim of the study is to determine the effects of ethanol extract of A. laxiflora leaves on the (kidney, liver, pancreas and heart) of adult Sprague dawley rats. The animals were separated into six groups of five (5) rats each after acclimatization. Group I is the control group, and groups II through VI received doses of the extract of (200, 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000) mg/kg body weight respectively. All data were analyzed using analyses of variance (ANOVA). The results showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference of A. laxiflora on the change in body weights, fasting blood glucose (FBG), protein, albumin and renal indices in all groups administered the doses relative to control. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in ALT concentrations in all groups administered A. laxiflora with the exception of those administered 5000 mg/kg, which significantly reduced ALT levels relative to control group. The effect of the extract on ALP in comparison with the control showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the groups (200, 500, and 1000) mg/kg administered. However, 3000 and 5000 mg/kg appeared significantly (P < 0.05) reduced ALP concentrations relative to control. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in triglyceride concentrations when the control group was compared to the groups administered 500, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg A. laxiflora. However, a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in triglyceride concentrations was observed in the groups administered A. laxiflora at 200, 1000 mg/kg relative to the control group. HDL-c concentration indicated that all groups administered did not cause any significant (P > 0.05) difference relative to control, 500 and 1000 mg/kg was observed to significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the levels of LDL-c. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in WBC and RBC at 500 mg/kg compared to the control. At 1000 and 5000 mg/kg, HCT concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) increased; at 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg, while LYM % and MCV were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in comparison with the control. Finally, when compared with the control, GRAN (200, 500, 1000, 3000, 5000) mg/kg, GRAN %, MON, MCHC, PDW and PCT (500, 1000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg), and PLT (1000, 3000, 5000) mg/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. Histologically, graded doses of Alchornea laxiflora caused significant (P < 0.05) increase in blood flow due to vasodilatation in all the tissues selected. Alchornea laxiflora scavenged DPPH, NO, H2O2, and FRAP compared to the standards. This scavenging ability is seen as a result of its antioxidants potentials which could xvi be due to their electron transfer or hydrogen donating ability as a result of the presence of the various phytochemicals assayed.
