ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate In vitro antibacterial activity and in vivo toxicological studies of aqueous extract of Nelsonia campestris. Study Design: Experimental design. Methodology: Standard laboratory procedures were used. Results and Discussion: The extract was highly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia and moderately active against Bacillus subtilis and Shigella dysenteriae with inhibition diameters in the range of (20 mm-30 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) recorded for the extract ranges between (80-90) mg/ml, and (70-90) mg/ml respectively. 100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 500 mg/kg bodyweight of the extract were orally administered to rats in their respective groups, while 0.5 ml of normal saline was administered to the rats in the control group for a period of one week. At the end of the experiment, the animals were anaesthetized under chloroform, and sacrificed. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture and used for the analyses of biochemical and haematological parameters. The packed cell volume (PCV) in 100 mg/kg bodyweight group increased (38.0±1.00) in reference to other groups. Red blood cell, and white blood cell also increased significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the control group. Total protein decreased (p>0.05) in all the treated groups in reference to the control. Activities of Aspartate transaminase (AST) increased in all groups in a dose dependent manner while that of alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased but showing increase in the same dose dependent fashion. Triglyceride increased significantly (p<0.05) in all groups, while cholesterol decreased in all groups. Urea increased significantly in a dose dependent manner when compared to the control group while creatinine decreased in the same way. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Nelsonia campestris has activity against the microbes resulting from the suppression of immunity by morbillivirus, but with mild toxicity to kidney, and liver.