Acute and sub-chronic oral exposure to ethanolic seed extract of Cajanus Cajan Millsp in rats: Biochemical and histological studies

Background: Cajanus cajan (Leguminosae) seed is a perennial legume commonly consumed as food in tropical and semi-tropical regions. It also serves as medicine used in the treatment of various ailments. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the acute and 60-day subchronic toxicity effects of C. cajan ethanol seed extract (Cc) in rats. Methods: Adult Sprague rats (of both sexes) were treated with normal saline (NS) and Cc (20, 100, and 500 mg/kg per body weight, orally) for 60 consecutive days. Animals were weighed weekly as well as monitored for behavioral and morphological changes. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for biochemical, hematological and hormonal analysis. Vital organs were also collected, weighed and assessed for histology.Results: In the acute toxicity study, no mortality was recorded following single oral administration of Cc up to 2000 mg/kg to mice. Similarly, Cc did not produce any significant (p> 0.05) adverse effects on body weights of vital organs (except for significant decrease in lung weight and increase in heart weight in female rats), Also, Cc caused was no significant effect (p> 0.05) in serum hormonal level, hematological, and biochemical parameters of rats. However, we observed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in percentage lymphocytes and a significant increase (p<0.05) in the percentage of granulocytes in female rats.Discussion and Conclusion: Findings from this study established that both acute and subchronic, oral treatment with Cc is relatively safe but with possible side effects including lymphocytopenia and granulocytosis. Thus, C. cajan seeds should be consumed with caution.