The present study deals with the toxicological investigations of chronic treatment with methanol root extract of
Clerodendrum myricoides
on body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, and liver and kidney tissue sections. Mice treated with
100mg/kg bw/day of methanol extract showed no behavioral changes. However, there was a general reduction of activity
in mice treated with 400mg/kg bw/day methanol extract and LD
50 treated mice showed hypoactivity, grooming, prostration,
piloroerection and irritation during administration towards the last days of the treatment period. The body weight gain
difference in the 100mg/kg bw/day methanol extract treated group was not significant, while those of the others were
significant as compared with the controls. Hematological results for the RBC count, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC in
methanol extract treated mice showed no significant changes at both doses of treatments as compared with the controls.
However, the value of lymphocytes was found significantly increased at100 and 400mg/kg bw/day methanol extract.
Similarly, HGB was significantly increased at 100 and 400mg/kg bw/day of methanol extract treated groups. On the other
hand, WBC and platelets count were significantly decreased after treatment with 400mg/kg bw/day methanol extract. ALT,
ALP, AST and urea values were significantly increased respectively at 100mg/kg bw/day and 400mg/kg bw/day methanol
extract. Several histopathological changes of liver and kidney were observed in the extract treated mice as compared to the
controls. Such histopathological changes observed in both liver and kidneys were inflammations and hydropic degenerations
of hepatocytes at both doses of methanol. In addition, in the LD
50 treated mice of the extracts there were also hemorrhages
and signs in congestion of glomeruli of the kidney.
Conclusion: chronic treatment with
Clerodendrum myricoides extracts in mice causes reduction in body weight gain, damage to
liver & kidney and changes in some hematological & biochemical parameters. It is therefore, suggested that further studies
are needed for minimization of the observed side effects, while maintaining the claimed medicinal values of the extract.