The present study investigates the toxicity of Telfaria occidentalis root extracted with different solvents. This was with a view to validating its widely acclaimed use as poison in traditional parlance. Air-dried powdered root of Telfaria occidentalis was extracted separately with distilled water, methanol and diethyl ether. Twenty albino rats were randomly placed into four groups of five animals per group: Group I served as the positive control and were administered distilled water only while groups II, III and IV animals were administered 50 mg/kg body weight of aqueous, methanolic and diethyl ether extracts respectively for two weeks. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed in the liver homogenate and serum. Levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol as well as lipid peroxidation were also measured in the liver and serum of animals. Results showed that the level of AST, ALT, ALP as well as LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in the serum of group IV animals increased significantly relative to the control group. Antioxidant enzyme biomarkers such as catalase and superoxide dismutase as well as lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in the serum of group IV animals relative to the control. The study concluded that toxicity of root extract of Telfaria occidentalis is solvent-dependent.
Keywords: Biochemistry; Toxicology.