Toxicological study ofchronic administrationof Zea mays husk extract onmale rats

Zea mays L (Family-Poaceae),used locally in ethnomedicine as a remedy for malaria, diabetes and fever among others, was evaluated for possible effect on hematological indices, liver and kidney functions as well as lipid profile and organs histologies of male Wistar rats following chronic administration of the husk extract. The husk extract (187, 374 and 561 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to male Wistar rats daily for 100 days and the rats were sacrificed under light diethyl ether anesthesia at the completion of the administration. Chronic administration of Zea mays husk extract resulted in insignificant (p>0.05) decrease/increase in body weights of rats without any significant (p>0.05) effect on the organs weights relativeto control. The husk extract treatment did not alter any blood indices of the malerats significantly (p>0.05) except significant (p<0.001) reduction of clotting time of male rats at all doses. The husk extract did not cause any significant (p>0.05) effect on liver function parameters (total protein, albumin, AST,ALT, ALP, GGT, total and combined bilirubin)and kidney function indices ( urea, creatinine, bicarbonate, potassium, sodium and chloride) of male rats. The extract did not alter the lipid profile of treated maleratsexcept significant (p<0.01) increase in VLDL of male rats at high dose (561 mg/kg) when compared to control.The husk extract exerted mild to moderate effect on the histologies of brains, hearts, livers and kidneys ofthe malerats. No pathological effect was observed on testis and sperm morphology. The extract should be taken with caution and high dose should be avoided.