Article · Volume 15, Issue 1 · pp. 119–127

Physicochemical, Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity of Terminalia catappa Kernel Oil in Mice

Emmanuel Mshelia Halilu^1,4, Chinenye Jane Ugwah-Oguejiofor², Göksu Oduncuoğlu¹, Solomon Gamde Matthias³

¹Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Mersin 10, TURKEY.
²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, NIGERIA.
³Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Jos, Plateau, NIGERIA.
⁴Department of Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Background: Terminalia catappa Linn. is an ornamental tree belonging to the family Combretaceae. This study was aimed at evaluating the toxicity profile and antioxidant activity of the oil.Materials and Methods: Oral acute and sub-acute toxicity were studied in mice using the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH free radical.Results:Terminalia catappa seed oil demonstrated antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH free radical with IC50 of 1.425 mg/mL while tannic acid (standard) was 5.005 mg/mL. The oral LD50 of the oil in mice was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The sub-acute toxicity study, produced no significant difference in the weight and biochemical parameters in treated animals compared to the control.Conclusion: The oil was also non-toxic to the liver, kidney, heart and lungs on histopathological examination. Our results indicated that Terminalia catappa seed oil is not toxic and contains beneficial phytochemical that demonstrated antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Antioxidant; DPPH; Phytochemical; Terminalia catappa; Toxicity

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