TOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF THE SERUM CREATININE LEVELS IN WISTAR RATS ADMINISTERED WITH METHANOLIC SEED EXTRACT OF DACRYODES EDULIS

This study investigated the acute toxicity of the methanolic seed extract of Dacryodes edulis in male albino Wistar rats. The increasing reliance on herbal medicine has raised concerns about the safety of bioactive compounds present in traditional plants, particularly when extracted using organic solvents such as methanol. Thirty-two (32) male rats were randomly divided into four groups: one control group and three treatment groups administered 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 75 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively. The study lasted 14 days, after which serum samples were collected for biochemical analysis, with a particular focus on alanine transaminase (ALT) as a marker of liver function. The results showed a slight, dose-dependent increase in ALT levels among the treated groups compared to the control. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), suggesting that the methanolic seed extract did not induce hepatotoxicity at the tested doses. No mortality or notable behavioral abnormalities were observed throughout the experimental period. These findings suggest that the methanolic seed extract of Dacryodes edulis is relatively safe under acute exposure conditions within the tested dose range. The study supports its ethnomedicinal use and provides foundational data for further pharmacological and toxicological research. However, more comprehensive studies, including chronic toxicity and histopathological evaluation, are recommended to establish its long-term safety profile.