Haematological and Biochemical Safety Evaluation of the Aqueous Fraction of the Methanol Extract of the Leaf of Musa paradisiaca Linn

The knowledge of the safety of a medicinal plant is important before it can be administered as a pharmacological agent in either animal or man. Thus, the effect of the aqueous fraction of the methanol extract of the leaf of Musa paradisiacal L. on the haematological and biochemical indices of experimental Swiss albino mice was studied. The dose of the extract that killed 50% of the animal population (LD₅₀) was determined using the Miller and Tinter method while the effect of the extract on the biochemical and haematological indices of wistar rats was determined after 21 days of administration of three different doses of the extract namely low, medium and high doses which are 10, 20 and 30% of the obtained LD₅₀. Results obtained showed an LD₅₀ of 5754.40±694.25 mg/kg of body weight indicating that the leaf of Musa paradisiaca is nontoxic. Results further showed that the extract had no significant (p<0.05) effect on the total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, AST and ALP levels while creatinine and ALT levels were slightly decreased. Likewise, haematological parameters such as RBC, HB, PCV, RBC differentials and platelet counts were not significantly (p<0.05) affected while WBC level was slightly reduced. The body weights of the experimental animals taken on the first day of the test, ten days after and on the last day of the test showed that the changes in the body weight of the animals were directly proportional to the number of treatment days. It is concluded that the leaf of Musa paradisiaca has no toxic effect on the haematological and biochemical parameters of the test animals hence it can be safe for use as a pharmacological agent.