Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

This study evaluated the toxicity of a polyherbal Formulation (Ghana Cleanser®) on liver function markers of exposed albino rats. Thirty (30) male and female rats of the Wistar strain were randomly allotted into six (6) groups with n=5. 10.0 mL/kg distilled water was given to control groups 1 and 4. Polyherbal formulation doses of 374.0 mg/kg and 187.0 mg/kg were administered to groups 2-3 and 5-6, respectively. A modified Lorke's approach was used to compute acute toxicity.  Animals were euthanized after 60 days under diethyl ether. Blood was collected for biochemical analyses through cardiac puncture. The liver was excised from each animal and was fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde and prepared for histological assessment. LD₅₀ of the polyherbal preparation was calculated as 3740 mg/kg (oral). The results indicated an appreciable increase (p<0.05) in ALT activity at 374.0 mg/kg in female rats; while there was no increase recorded at 187.0mg/kg in male rats. A significant increase in ALT activity was recorded at 374 mg/kg in male rats as well and increased AST activities were recorded at 187mg/kg in female rats. In the treated animals of both sexes, ALP activities were significantly elevated. Histopathology assessment of the hepatocytes showed no significant damage at 187 mg/kg in rats of both sexes when compared with their respective controls while some degrees of pathologies such as hepatocyte inflammation, hyperplasia, and congestion were recorded at 374 mg/kg in rats of both sexes. Results suggest caution on the long-term use of the polyherbal mixture due to its hepatotoxic potential.