World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

RESPONSE OF ORGAN AND BODY WEIGHT IN ALBINO RATS TO ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF METHANOL EXTRACT FROM INDIGENOUS GANODERMA SP. FROM NIGERIA

*Shamaki B. U., Sandabe U. K., Gambo B. G., Ogbe A. O., Abdulrahman F. I., Hassan Z. I., Yusuf I. L., O. S. Isikhuemhe

ABSTRACT

Organ weight analysis is an important endpoint in toxicological studies for identification of potentially harmful effects of xenobiotics and plant crude extracts. Differences in body weights between groups sometimes may be accompanied by differences in organ weights between these groups. In this study, the relative organ/body weight relationship was examined in 100 three weeks old albino rats of both sexes and weighing 100-140 g following 21 daily oral administration of methanol extract of Ganoderma spp. The rats were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D), of 25 rats/group. Doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg (constituted from a stock of 2g/100l) of the extract were administered to groups A, B and C respectively within the study period, and rats in group C served as control and were provided water ad libitum. Results from the study showed that methanol extract of G. lucidum has no effect on relative organ weights of the rats in all the treatment groups compared to control. This suggest that the extract can be tolerated by the body of rats, be fully biotransformed and excreted with relative safety, thereby making the extract of G. lucidum a potential source of drug ready for exploitation in the healthcare system.

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