ABSTRACT
The biochemical effects of the oral administration of Picus exasperala Vahi in experimental rats was investigated. Administration of extract at doses I 00mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg, for groups II, III, IV and V for 14 days resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight in all the groups. Group I, which served as control gained 36.56±7.56g. Group 11 and 111 gained 38.43±8.32g and 39.55±9.62 while groups IV and V gained 43.80±1 l.97g and 36.75±14.84 respectively. There was an increase in relative liver and kidney weight, which is concentration dependent. The mean relative spleen weight decreased as the dose increases. The mean serum alkaline phosphate increased significantly (P0.05) as the concentration increases. In the same vein mean Serum alan inC aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransam inase increased significantly (P><0.05) as the dose increases. The lethal dose LD50of the aqueous extract of ficus exasperala Vahl in zoological organism was deteiinined to be I 2,302.7ing/ml.><0.05) increase in body weight in all the groups. Group I, which served as control gained 36.56±7.56g. Group 11 and 111 gained 38.43±8.32g and 39.55±9.62 while groups IV and V gained 43.80±1 l.97g and 36.75±14.84 respectively. There was an increase in relative liver and kidney weight, which is concentration dependent. The mean relative spleen weight decreased as the dose increases. The mean serum alkaline phosphate increased significantly (P0.05) as the concentration increases. In the same vein mean Serum alan inC aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransam inase increased significantly