In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)

Adansonia digitata (L.) is an ancient plant widely known for its diverse medicinal properties. The pulp and seeds of this plant are commonly consumed by rural populations in Africa, valued for their poly-therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity, an...

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Main Authors: Mercy Badu, Philip T. Thompson, Vivian E. Boamah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific African
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625000857
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author Mercy Badu
Philip T. Thompson
Vivian E. Boamah
author_facet Mercy Badu
Philip T. Thompson
Vivian E. Boamah
author_sort Mercy Badu
collection DOAJ
description Adansonia digitata (L.) is an ancient plant widely known for its diverse medicinal properties. The pulp and seeds of this plant are commonly consumed by rural populations in Africa, valued for their poly-therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity, and sub-acute toxicity of extracts from the pulp and seeds using animal models. The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a carrageenan-induced foot edema model in 7-day-old chicks, while the acute and sub-acute toxicities were evaluated in Wistar albino rats. In the anti-inflammatory study, the fruit pulp extract exhibited an ED50 value of 282.12 mg/kg BW, while the seed extracts showed similar activity with ED50 values of 338.41 mg/kg BW for the polar extract and 347.40 mg/kg BW for the non-polar extract. In the acute toxicity evaluation, no mortality was observed at the highest administered dose of 5000 mg/kg BW, suggesting an LD50 value above the highest administered dose. Sub-acute toxicity studies over 28 days revealed significant increases (p < 0.05) in body weight, absolute organ weight, and relative organ weight in rats, yet without adverse effects on hematological or biochemical parameters. Histopathological analysis confirmed the absence of damage to kidney and liver tissues, indicating the safety of the extracts at doses below the estimated LD50. In conclusion, the extracts demonstrate notable anti-inflammatory activity and appear safe for consumption within the tested dose range, supporting their traditional use for health benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-e54d8d4c107e4009b048fab84c27adc72025-08-20T02:55:54ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762025-03-0127e0261510.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02615In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)Mercy Badu0Philip T. Thompson1Vivian E. Boamah2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Corresponding author.Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaPharmaceutical Microbiology Section, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaAdansonia digitata (L.) is an ancient plant widely known for its diverse medicinal properties. The pulp and seeds of this plant are commonly consumed by rural populations in Africa, valued for their poly-therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity, and sub-acute toxicity of extracts from the pulp and seeds using animal models. The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using a carrageenan-induced foot edema model in 7-day-old chicks, while the acute and sub-acute toxicities were evaluated in Wistar albino rats. In the anti-inflammatory study, the fruit pulp extract exhibited an ED50 value of 282.12 mg/kg BW, while the seed extracts showed similar activity with ED50 values of 338.41 mg/kg BW for the polar extract and 347.40 mg/kg BW for the non-polar extract. In the acute toxicity evaluation, no mortality was observed at the highest administered dose of 5000 mg/kg BW, suggesting an LD50 value above the highest administered dose. Sub-acute toxicity studies over 28 days revealed significant increases (p < 0.05) in body weight, absolute organ weight, and relative organ weight in rats, yet without adverse effects on hematological or biochemical parameters. Histopathological analysis confirmed the absence of damage to kidney and liver tissues, indicating the safety of the extracts at doses below the estimated LD50. In conclusion, the extracts demonstrate notable anti-inflammatory activity and appear safe for consumption within the tested dose range, supporting their traditional use for health benefits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625000857Anti-inflammatoryAcute toxicitySub-acute toxicityAdansonia digitataBaobabPulp
spellingShingle Mercy Badu
Philip T. Thompson
Vivian E. Boamah
In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
Scientific African
Anti-inflammatory
Acute toxicity
Sub-acute toxicity
Adansonia digitata
Baobab
Pulp
title In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
title_full In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
title_fullStr In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
title_full_unstemmed In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
title_short In vivo anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity profiling, and sub-acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)
title_sort in vivo anti inflammatory activity acute toxicity profiling and sub acute toxicity profiling of extracts from the fruit pulp and seeds of african baobab adansonia digitata l
topic Anti-inflammatory
Acute toxicity
Sub-acute toxicity
Adansonia digitata
Baobab
Pulp
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625000857
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