Effects of Aqueous Bark Extracts of Khaya grandifoliola and Enantia chlorantha on Some Biochemical Parameters in Swiss Mice

Background: In this study, the potential side effects of Khaya grandifolola (KG) and Enatia chlorantha (EC) were investigated on liver function and hematological parameters of Swiss albino mice infected with malaria. Method: This study was carried out in part in the Department of Biochemistry, Kwara State University, Malete, and in part in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2016. Aqueous extracts of both KG and EC were screened for the presence of some phytochemicals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five groups of eight animals each were used. Group A was administered with only distilled water. Group B was administered with 50 mg/kg body weight of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Groups C, D, and E were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of KG, EC and KG-EC combination, respectively. After 28 d, the animals were sacrificed for biochemical analysis. Results: The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin activities were not significantly different (P˂0.05) in all the extract treated animal groups as compared to ACT. However, there was increase in the concentrations of ATL and total bilirubin when compared with that of controls. There was no significant difference (P˂0.05) among Hb, RBC, PCV, WBC, lymphocytes, and platelets compared with ACT. However, they increased as compared to the control groups. Conclusion: The aqueous bark extracts of KG and EC either in single or in combined form resulted in hepatotoxicity compared to controls. They also have deleterious effects on hematological parameters of the Swiss mice following administration.