Helga Ishaya Bedan1, Sani Hyedima Garba1, Tamunotonye Jacks2, Martha Orendu Oche Attah1,3 and Nathan Isaac Dibal1
1Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
2Department of Human Anatomy, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
3Faculty of Medicine, Cyprus International University, Haspolat, Nicosia, Cyprus
*Corresponding author’s Email: marthaorendua@unimaid.edu.ng, doi.org/10.55639/607.565554
ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to determine the phytochemical constituent and the acute toxicity of date palm pollen (DPP) using female albino rats. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of DPP was carried out to investigate the phytochemical content of DPP harvested in Northern Nigeria as there was paucity of this data. The acute toxicity study of the aqueous extract was also carried out to determine the dosage that was innocuous in Wistar rats. In the acute toxicity study carried out, eighteen rats were divided into two groups named I and II. In each of the groups, the rats were further subdivided into three groups and rats in this group were administered 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of aqueous extract of DPP. The rats in group II were administered aqueous extract of DPP at concentrations of 1600 mg/kg, 2900 mg/kg and 5000mg/kg. There was no death or physical toxic characteristic displayed at the end of the study and histological examination of tissues displayed no damage to the histoachitecture of tissues examined showing thst the extract had no damaging effect on the tissues tested. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, cardenolites, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids and carbohydrates which indicates the extract would play useful roles in ethnopharmacology.
Keywords:
Phoenix dactylifera,
Date Palm,
Pollen,
Acute Toxicity,
Phytochemical Analysis