The Biochemical and Histopathological Effects of Methanolic Extract of Banana Flower (musa Acuminata) in Albino Rats.

ABSTRACT Musa acuminata is an herbaceous plant which belongs to the family Musaceae. It is commonly called Banana blossom or Banana heart. This study was to: prepare the methanolic extract of Banana flower, evaluate phytochemical and elemental constituents of banana flower, determine lethal dose (LD50) of the extract in Albino rats, and to investigate the effect of sub-acute (21 days) administration of the extract on serum biochemistry and histopathological lesions in Albino rats. In this study, Musa acuminata fresh flowers were collected, dried and extracted using 98% methanol as the solvent. Phytochemical and elemental analysis was conducted using standard procedure and revealed the presence of carbohydrate, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoid, tannins and saponin glycoside, while the elemental analysis was revealed potassium, calcium, manganese, chloride, zinc, lead, iron, sodium, copper, and magnesium in the flower. Twelve randomly selected (12) rats were used for acute toxicity study, using Lorke's method phase I and II. The acute toxicity (oral route) showed that the LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Experimental animals were grouped into 5 groups of 4 albino rats each and labeled groups A, B, C, D, and E and were administered water, 200, 400, 600 and 800mg/kg body weight of the extract. Biochemical parameters such as urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were evaluated using standard procedures. The effect of methanolic extract of Musa acuminata indicated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in urea, ALT and ALP compared to the control. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in creatinine, total protein and calcium levels were observed in some of the groups compared to the control. The histopathological lesions observed after sub-acute (21 days) exposure of albino rats to methanolic extract of Musa acuminata on the kidney, pancreas, liver, heart and small intestine showed some histopathological lesions in some organs. The kidneys, liver and small intestine sections in the treated groups showed lymphocytic infiltrations alongside other lesions of toxicity while, sections of the pancreas and the heart showed normal tissue and architecture in both the treated and untreated groups. The histopathological lesions and the biochemical effects observed are indicative that although the extract has wide margin of safety, prolonged administration proved toxic to the kidney, liver and intestine. I recommend a further study to investigate the antigenic property eliciting immunological responses in order to harness the benefits of this extract without detrimental effects to the normal physiology of the body.