Toxicological and Nutritional Evaluations of Milk Bush (Thevetia neriifolia) Seed Oil-Based Diet in Albino Rats

Abstract

The seed oil of milk bush Thevetia neriifolia have been analyzed to provide some physical data for the oil and growth performance and toxicity evaluation in rats using the seed oil-based. The fatty acid composition of the oil was identified using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). The oil consist of 97.583%  fatty acid of which the most abundant is the monounsaturated  (C₁₈H₃₄O₂) Oleic acid (52%), and the others are saturated fatty acids  (C₁₈H₃₆O₂) Stearic acid (25%) and the other Palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂). The physicochemical studies of the seed oil showed: acid value of 0.515 ± 0.27; 117.125±2.38 mgKOH/g saponification value and 74.145 ± 0.784 iodine value. Growth performance was investigated in Wistar albino rats following a feeding period of 6weeks, using 5 %, 10 % and 15% of the oil compounded feed. We observed a significant decrease in body weight gain and feed intake in 10% and 15% oil-based feed group compared to control. The enzymatic antioxidant, biomarkers of kidney/liver toxicity and histopathology of visceral organs were evaluated. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum AST, and ALT of treated groups with respect to control group. Which explain its toxic nature.

Keywords: chemical composition, characteristics, feed formulation, growth performance, toxicological evaluations