Phytochemical Ad Toxcolo6jcal Studies On Aqueous Extra Ct Of Roots Of Telefaria Occidentalis.

ABSTRACT

 Preliminary phytochemical and toxicity studies on aqueous extracts of Telfaria occidentalis was carried out. Phytochemical screening of roots of Telfaria occidentalis indicate the presence of Tannins, Alkaloids, Saponins, flavonoids, Oligosaccharides, Trypsin Inhibitors, Oxalates, Cyanogenic Glycosides, Phytates, Phylobatanins, Steroids, Triterpenes starch and Raffinose. Quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals present showed that Telfaria occidentalis extract has as follows: Flavonoids (0.703±0.05%), Alkaloids (2.693±0.023%) and Tannins (0.340±0.004%). Mice orally administered aqueous extracts of Telfaria occidentalis roots had massive weight loss inspite of normal feeding, which increased with dosage during a 7 day administration regimen at doses 500 and 1 000mglkg body weight along with other degrees of organ lesions. Serum amino transaminase activity was double in the group administered 1000mg/kg body weight of the extract while total serum protein decrease in the same group. The toxicity of the aqueous root extract may be accounted by the high trypsin inhibitor activity (1348.33±9.45 TUI/9), phytates (7.823±0.127g%), Oligosaccharide (4.028±0.012g%) and cyanogenic glycoside (66.37±).387 mg/kg).