Safety Evaluation of Giant African Land Snails (Archachatina maginata) Haemolymph on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of Albino Rats

The safety of Archachatina maginata haemolymph on biochemical and hematological indices of albino rats was investigated. Twelve white albino rats were grouped into 3 (A-C) of 4 animals each. Group A rats serve as control groups and received no treatment, while groups B and C received 2 and 4 ml/kg of the haemolymph respectively, for ten days. Haemolymph administration resulted in a significant increase in the serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin, total bilirubin and creatinine but significant decrease in the level of urea and chloride than the control rats. While serum bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, body weight gain, Relative organ weight were not significantly altered. However, there was a significant decrease in the relative kidney weight when compared with the control values. Haemolymph also produce significant dose dependent changes in erythrocyte, leucocyte and platelet indices when compared with control values. However, clinical observations for toxicological studies shows that the haemolymph did not produce any grossly negative behavioral changes, but increase water consumption was observed during the experimental periods. The results indicated changes in the investigated hematological and some biochemical parameters showing a more pronounced effect on the liver function than the renal function tests and at a higher dose than the lower dose. Hence, caution should be taken when using the haemolymph of Archachatina maginata for therapeutic purpose because it may also have some liver or tissue membrane damaging effect.