Phytochemical, Acute Toxicity and Heavy Metals Evaluation of Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss (Meliaceae) Stem Bark

Abstract

The present work was aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents, median lethal dose (LD₅₀) and levels of heavy metals in Khaya senegalensis stem bark obtained from Kano State, Nigeria. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, phenolic compounds and carbohydrates, while the LD₅₀ of the aqueous stem bark extract was above 5000 mg/kg body weight using OECD and Lorke’s method. The heavy metals analysis revealed that cadmium, cobalt and lead were not detected, while copper (0.07±0.02 mg/kg), nickel (0.03±0.007 mg/kg), mercury (0.03±0.005 mg/kg), manganese (0.03±0.006 mg/kg), chromium (0.02±0.004 mg/kg) and arsenic (0.21±0.06 mg/kg) were detected. The findings in this study showed that aqueous stem bark extract of K. senegalensis was practically non-toxic, while the levels of heavy metals detected did not exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits for metals in medicinal plant and herbal products.

Keywords: Khaya senegalensis, phytochemical constituents, median lethal dose, heavy metals, permissible limits

Cite this Article

Ali A., Abubakar U.S., Suleiman A., Adeleke A.G., Abdulrazak A., Sa’adatu A.U. Phytochemical, Acute Toxicity and Heavy Metals Evaluation of Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss (Meliaceae) Stem Bark. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Drug Design & Discovery. 2020; 7(1): 1–7p.