Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Medical Laboratory Sciences Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechno
Saheed, S., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria, Phytomedicine and Phytopharmacology Research Group, Department of Biochemical, Microbial and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Oladipipo, A.E., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Abdulazeez, A.A., Medical Laboratory Sciences Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Olarewaju, S.A., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Ismaila, N.O., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Emmanuel, I.A., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Fatimah, Q.D., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria; Aisha, A.Y., Phytomedicine, Food Factors and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria
Despite the acclaimed phytotherapeutic attributes of Stigma maydis in folkloric medicine, there is paucity of information on its toxicity profile on hematological and lipid parameters. The toxicological effect of aqueous extract of corn silk at 100, 200 and 400. mg/kg body weight on hematological indices in Wistar rats were evaluated progressively at 24. h after 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Lipid parameters were also analyzed at the end of the experimental period. We observed that the extract did not exhibit any significant (p>. 0.05) effect on red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and mean platelet volume at all the tested doses. The study however showed a significant increase in the serum levels of white blood cell, platelet, lymphocytes, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; as well as feeding pattern in the animals, while the concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and artherogenic index value were significantly lowered. These findings are suggestive of non-hematotoxic potential of the extract. Overall, the effect exhibited by corn silk extract in this study proved that, it is unlikely to be hematotoxic and could be a good candidature in the management of coronary heart diseases if consumed at the doses investigated. © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.