Japhet Kimondo Josephat’s scientific contributions

Background: Traditional healers utilize the roots of Suregada zanzibariensis for managing diabetes mellitus. Therefore, evaluation of toxic properties of this plant is important. Objective: To evaluate acute oral toxicity of S. zanzibariensis root extract on Wistar rats and to screen phytochemical compounds of the EAESZ. Methods: GCMS analysis of the plant extracts were performed by using GCMS-2010 Shimadzu and mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the data in the library of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Acute oral toxicity testing was carried by administering a single Distilled water extract (DWESZ) and EAESZ to four different groups of rats at dosage of 300mg/kg and 2000mg/kg in each extract to the separately group of rats Results: The GC-MS analysis of S. zanzibariensis roots extract revealed the presence of 10 major compounds. A higher single dose (2000mg/Kg) of EAESZ and DWESZ extract did not produce any sign of toxicity throughout 14 days of study, in terms of changes in behaviour or mortality in tested rats. No significant (p > 0.05) hematological, liver histological, biochemical changes were noticed between rats treated and control rats Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that the plant extract can be classified as non-toxic. Keywords: Phytochemical profiling; acute oral toxicity; Suregada zanzibariensis (Baill) root extract.