SUBACUTE TOXICITY EVALUATION OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA LEAF AGAINST KIDNEY FUNCTION

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants continue to serve as integral components of traditional healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries where accessibility and affordability drive their widespread use. Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed), a perennial shrub of the Asteraceae family, is widely applied in ethnomedicine for the treatment of wounds, malaria, diarrhoea, and inflammatory conditions. While its therapeutic efficacy has been well documented, there remains limited scientific evidence on its potential toxicity, particularly with respect to renal function. This study evaluated the subacute nephrotoxic effects of C. odorata leaf extract in Wistar rats. Fresh leaves of C. odorata were collected, air-dried, and extracted with methanol. Fifteen rats were divided into four groups: a control group administered olive oil, and three experimental groups orally administered with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of the extract for 14 days. At the end of the exposure period, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of renal markers, including serum creatinine and urea, using standard spectrophotometric methods. Data were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA at a significance level of p