An Evaluation of the Sub Acute Toxicity and Haemostatic Effects of Leaves Extract of Achyranthes aspera in Mice and Albino Rats

Background: Achyranthes aspera is used mostly in Nigerian and other folklore medicines to stop bleeding from wounds and in the treatment of other conditions such as dog bite, scorpion bite, gonorrhoea, obstetric disorders and diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: The present study evaluated the toxicological and haemostatic effects of the leaves extract of Achyranthes aspera in adult Wistar albino rats and Swiss mice using experimental models.

Methods: The acute toxicity profile of the methanol leaves extract, skin irritation test as well as the bleeding and clotting times in experimentally induced wounds were studied in Swiss mice and Wistar albino rats using standard methods. The phytochemical screening of the extract was undertaken using standard methods.

Results: The intra-peritoneal LD50 of the extract was found to be 1224.7mg/kg and the topical skin irritation was negative. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and terpenes. Administration of the extract for 21 days orally to the animals caused a significant (P=.05) decrease in clotting and bleeding times, with bleeding time in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control animals. Topical administration of the extract also caused a significant (P=.05) decrease in bleeding time compared to control animals with a less significant decrease when compared to orally administered extract.

Conclusion: The results have shown that Achyranthes aspera, a traditional folklore medicinal plant has haemostatic effect which may provide therapeutic potential capable of arresting bleeding and contain some biologically active principle(s) which are responsible for the haemostasis.