Phytochemical Screening and Acute Toxicity of Kabuuti Herbal Cough Syrup in Wistar Rats

Adroa Afiya B.

Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry Kampala International University Teaching Hospital Western Campus Uganda.

ABSTRACT

Kabuuti herbal cough syrup is widely used remedy that is used for the relief of cough and it’s available on over the counter in pharmacies and drug shops in Uganda since its non prescription drug. It contains the following ingredients according to the package label; Z. officinale, E. globulus, Citrus medica and sorbitol as from the package label. This study aim to assess the phytochemical screening and acute toxicity of Kabuuti herbal cough syrup in wistar rats. The toxicity profile of the Kabuuti extract was studied in wistar rats. The acute toxicity study to determine LD50 was done using Lorke’s method which proceeded in two phases I and II. Phytochemical screening was also done to find out secondary metabolites that were present. The effect of the extract on hematological parameters and biochemical parameters of the liver and the kidney were observed. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of phenols, flavonoid and steroids. The LD₅₀ of the extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The doses administered in phase I showed sedation, urination and decreased activity as signs of toxicity and behavior changes. In phase II the dose of 1600 mg/kg produced shivering, 2900 mg/kg caused shivering and sedation and 5000 mg/kg caused shivering and hypnosis. No mortality was registered. The result equally revealed that the extract caused significant decrease in white blood cell count compared to the control group and the treatment group with the dose of 1600 mg/kg (P=0.004). Significant decrease in lymphocytes was noticed in 1000 mg/kg and 1600 mg/kg as compared to control (P=0.002). Kabuuti herbal cough extract may not be very safe at a wide range of doses due to its large LD₅₀. It should be taken with much caution.

Keywords: LD₅₀ (Acute toxicity), acute, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine.

CITE AS: Adroa Afiya B. (2024). Phytochemical Screening and Acute Toxicity of Kabuuti Herbal Cough Syrup in Wistar Rats. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 3(1):40-44