Abstract
Excessive use of medicinal plants may lead to toxicity in major tissues or organs. As a result, toxicity studies are critical in determining the safety or detrimental effects of medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effect of polyherbal-formulated teas (Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Citrus limon, and Moringa oleifera). An acute toxicity study was carried out using Lork’s methods with slight modifications. In a sub-acute study, 20 albino rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats in each group. Group 1 received distilled water; groups 2, 3, and 4 received 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 100 mg/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 analysis, and the tissues were fixed for histological assessment. The LD50 was indeterminable because no death occurred at the highest dose of 10 g/kg. The polyherbal formulated tea at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg increased the weight of the albino rats at weeks 2, 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). At all levels, the tea has no effect on hematology parameters. The polyherbal formulation at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of Alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinin, and alkaline phosphate. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and total protein when compared to 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, cardioprotective, and nephroprotective activity.
