Acute and sub-chronic toxicity study of the ethanol extract from leaves of Aralia elata in rats. (4th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Fengjin; He, Xiaoli; Niu, Wenying; Feng, Yuenan; Bian, Jingqi; Xiao, Hongbin
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 175(2015)
• Page Start: 499
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2015-12-04
• Subjects: ELE ethanol leaves extract -- WBC white blood cell -- RBC red blood cell -- HCT hematocrit -- HGB hemoglobin -- MCH mean corpuscular -- MCV mean corpuscular volume -- MCHC mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration -- LYM lymphocytes -- PLT platelet -- MON monocytes -- NEUT neutrophil granulocytes -- BAS basophils -- EOS eosinophils -- Ret reticulocyte -- APTT activated partial thromboplastin time -- PT prothrombin time -- ALT alanine transaminase -- ALP alkaline phosphatase -- AST aspartate transaminase -- ALB albumin -- GLB globulin -- A/G albumin-globulin ration -- TP total protein -- TBIL total bilirubin -- CREA creatinine -- UA uric acid -- UREA urea -- CK creatine kinase -- TG triglyceride -- TCHO total cholesterol -- LDH lactate dehydrogenase -- GLU glucose -- LD50 medial lethal dose -- CFDA China Food and Drug Administration -- NOAEL no observe adverse effect level -- HED human equivalent dose.; Aralia elata Seem. -- Acute toxicity -- Sub-chronic toxicity -- Rats; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Aralia elata Seem. ( A. elata ) is a well-known medicinal plant which has been used as a tonic, anti-arthritic and anti-diabetic agent in traditional Chinese medicine. This investigation aimed to evaluate the potential toxicological properties of the ethanol extract from leaves of A. elata, namely ethanol leaves extract (ELE), in rats by acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies. Materials and methods: In the acute toxicity study, rats were orally administrated with ELE at doses of 1.00, 2.15, 4.64, and 10.00 g/kg to determine the oral medial lethal dose (LD50 ). Abnormal behavior, toxic symptom, and death were observed for 14 consecutive days. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were orally administrated with ELE at doses of 0, 60, 180, and 540 mg/kg for 12 weeks and followed-up a 4-week recovery period. At the end of the treatment and recovery periods, the rats were sacrificed for hematological, biochemical, and histopathology analyses. Results: The acute toxicity study showed that oral administration of ELE induced the incidence of adverse effects. The death rate also increased in a dose-dependent manner. The LD50 value was 3.16 g/kg for female rats, and 5.84 g/kg for male rats, respectively. The sub-chronic toxicity study showed that daily oral administration of ELE induced no significant difference in food consumption. However, the body weight of male rats in high dose group increased slowly compared with the control group during the recovery period. The hematological and biochemical analysis showed that compared with the control group, HGB and MCV levels were significantly increased in ELE treatment groups at the end of the treatment period, while TP and GLB levels were significantly decreased at the end of the recovery period. The absolute and relative weight of thymus, brain and adrenal gland showed a significant difference in low or high dose group at the end of the treatment period, although no histological changes were observed in various organs. Conclusion: The results of this study provided evidence that oral administration of ELE at dose of 540 mg/kg is safe in rats and may not exert severe toxic effects. Graphical abstract: