Abstract

Chinenye J. Ugwah-Oguejiofor* , Shaibu O. Bello, Emmanuel U. Etuk, Vincent U. Igbokwe, Oguejiofor M. Ugwah, Raymond U. Okolo

Ficus platyphylla Del. Holl. known as gutta percha tree, grows widely in the Northern part of Nigeria. It has been used traditionally to promote fertility. The present study was aimed to investigate the safety of Ficus platyphylla. Phytochemical, acute and repeat dose toxicity studies were conducted on aqueous extract of the leaves, seeds and bark of Ficus platyphylla. A Limit dose of 3000mg/kg of the aqueous extract was administered orally to female albino rats in sequence to test for acute toxic effect. A dose of 700mg/kg was administered orally daily for 28days to another group of female albino rats to ascertain the repeat dose effect. The control group of female albino rats received 5ml/kg of distilled water (diluent of the aq. extract) for 28days.Phytochemical studies revealed that the extract contains saponins (1%), tannins (16.75%), flavonoids (24.3%), volatile oils, glycosides (2.47%) and steroids. The acute toxicity results showed that the extract has LD50 above 3000mg/kg and repeat dose toxicity studies of the extract revealed possible damage to the glomeruli of rat kidney. Though the extract is relatively safe, its prolong use may carry risk of renal damage.