EVALUATION OF THE TOXICOLOGICAL STATUS OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM SEED FLOUR

Chrysophyllum albidum seed flour (CASF) was evaluated for its toxicity status using Wistar rats so as to ascertain its suitability as additive in animal/human diet. Forty Wistar rats randomly allotted to four dietary groups labelled A, B, C and D were fed with 0%, 20%, 40% of CASF formulated diets and commercial feed respectively for four weeks. Protein content of the different diets was 22.84 ± 0.12% (0% diet; group A), 21.52 ± 0.12% (20% diet; group B) and 17.04 ± 0.04% (40% diet; group C) and they all contain reasonable concentrations of Ca, Mg, K and Na.  The rats, when monitored weekly, showed great reduction in body weight with high mortality rate for the 20% and 40% diets. There were significant differences in most of the hematological parameters of test rats when compared with the control ones. Result of the histopathological analysis showed a focus of myofibre necrosis with cellular infiltration around the endocardium and a severe interstitial congestion and heamorrhage for both the heart and kidney of the 40% rats. There was also a moderate diffuse vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes with expansion of sinusoids by hyperplastic Kupffer cells and a severe congestion of the portal area with moderate to severe periportal cellular infiltration for 20% and 40% rats respectively. CASF was found toxic when used as feed supplement for rats at 20% and 40% w/w inclusion levels.  Keyword: Chrysophyllum albidum, seed flour, toxicity, haematological parameters, biochemical parameters