PHYTOMEDICINAL PROPERTY, PHYSICOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND BIOSAFETY EVALUATION OF EXTRACT OF ICACINA TRICHANTHA OLIVER SEED IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Ethnomedicine provides a basic understanding of plant medicinal properties. The identification and standardization of active compounds in any medicinal plant is critical for the production of new drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical constituents and biosafety of the extract from Icacina trichantha. Oliv. (Icacinaceae seed. Phytoconstituents of the plant material was assayed using standard biochemical methods and GCMS analytical procedures. Acute toxicity test was performed according to standard method, while sub-acute toxicity was determined by assessing haematological parameters in grouped rats, and were administered single daily doses of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of the extract for 14 consecutive days. Findings from the study revealed notable phytochemicals in sufficient amount; while in the GCMS, phytocompounds like erucic acid, hexadecanoic acid, stearic acid and phytol were identified. Physicochemical analysis on the studied plant material had appreciable amount of moisture (14.00%), crude lipid (2.92%), crude fibre (1.75%), proteins (5.25%), ash (12.26%) and carbohydrates (31.82%). The plant also had pronounced concentrations of notable vitamins. The result from the acute toxicity studies was assessed to be above 200 mg/kg, while the 14 days sub-acute test revealed that there was improving effect in all haematological parameters investigated without adverse interference. This study revealed that orally administered I. trichantha methanol seed extract was tolerated at a single graded dose, LD above 200 mg/kg. The data obtained tend to support the biosafety of the plant extract as reportedly used in indigenous herbal home remedies