Abstract

The African yam bean, Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hoschst ex. A. Rich) Harms, Fabaceae, is one of the edible legumes cultivated in Africa for human and animal nutrition. The acute toxicity (LD₅₀) test and haematological parameters of anaemic rats treated with the methanol extract of the plant seeds were investigated for days 0, 4 and 8. The extract was found not to be toxic up to 5000 mg/kg, indicating the safety of the plant for both human and animal consumption. The effects of the oral administration of the extract in anaemic rats at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin concentrations of rats after the fourth day of treatment with the extract. The increase was comparable with a standard drug, Ranferon, used in the treatment of anaemia. There were no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin concentrations of the rats after the 8th day of treatment. The results revealed that the extract administration in rats restored the anaemic conditions in the treatment groups thus giving credence to the use of the plant in the management of anaemia.

Key words: Toxicity, Sphenostylis stenocarpa, aanaemia, methanol seed extract.