Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Acute Oral ‎Toxicity Evaluation of Aqueous, Ethanolic, and Methanolic Extracts of Thespesia Garckeana Fruit Pericarp in Wistar ‎Rats

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ogundeko TO Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
  • Ramyil MSC Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medical Sciences, Bingham University, Jos campus, Nigeria
  • Okoye NP Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medical Sciences, Bingham University, Jos campus, Nigeria
  • Ayorinde JO Department of Pest Management Technology, Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Nigeria
  • Yusuf AO Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medical Sciences, Bingham University, Jos campus, Nigeria
  • Ogundeko AT Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure Nigeria
  • Bassi AP Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Nile University of Nigeria, Cadastral, Abuja, Nigeria
  • Abdul SD Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria

About this article

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14419/a2zep229

Received:

06-04-2026

Revised:

06-04-2026

Accepted:

12-06-2026

Published:

30-06-2026

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0

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Keywords:

Thespesia Garckeana; Phytochemical Screening; Acute Toxicity; LD₅₀; Medicinal Plants; Wistar Rats; Solvent Extraction; Body Weight

Abstract

The increasing reliance on medicinal plants for primary healthcare necessitates scientific validation of their safety and bioactive ‎potential. This study evaluated the preliminary phytochemical composition and acute oral toxicity profile of aqueous, ethanolic, and ‎methanolic extracts of Thespesia garckeana fruit pericarp in Wistar rats. Standard phytochemical screening methods were employed ‎to detect major secondary metabolites, while acute toxicity was assessed using Lorke’s method across two phases, considering dose ‎variation, gender, behavioural responses, and mortality. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, ‎tannins, steroids, carbohydrates, and trace cardiac glycosides, with methanolic extract exhibiting the richest phytochemical profile. ‎Extraction yield was highest in methanol (44.02%), followed by ethanol (39.09%) and aqueous extract (36.95%). Acute toxicity ‎evaluation showed no mortality at doses up to 1000 mg/kg across all extracts in phase I. In phase II, no mortality was observed even ‎at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg, indicating an LD₅₀ greater than 5000 mg/kg for all extracts. Behavioural observations showed ‎mild transient effects such as reduced activity and sniffing, with no significant gender-related differences. The findings suggest that ‎T. garckeana fruit pericarp extracts are relatively safe and rich in bioactive compounds, supporting their ethnomedicinal use and ‎potential for further pharmacological investigations‎.

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How to Cite

TO, O., MSC, R., NP, O., JO, A., AO, Y., AT, O., AP, B., & SD, A. (2026). Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Acute Oral ‎Toxicity Evaluation of Aqueous, Ethanolic, and Methanolic Extracts of Thespesia Garckeana Fruit Pericarp in Wistar ‎Rats. International Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 14(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.14419/a2zep229

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