Acute and Subacute Toxicity of an Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Harungana madagascariensis LAM (Hypericaceae) Stem Bark in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Harungana madagascariensis is widely used for treatment of various ailments in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate potential toxic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of H. madagascariensis stem bark in rats. OECD Guidelines 423 and 407 were used for acute and sub-acute toxicity study. The acute toxicity study of both extracts revealed no lethal effects and behavioural signs of toxicity at the tested doses indicating that LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, both extracts induced significant reduction of the body weight (p < 0.05). The EEHm treatments at the dose of 1000 mg/kg increased significantly the relative heart weight in female rats. The EAHm treatment at the dose of 300 mg/kg, caused significant increase of AST level in male rats (p < 0.05). Administration of EAHm at all doses increase significantly WBC counts (p < 0.05) and the levels of platelets at dose of 1000 mg/kg in the male rats (p < 0.05). However, it induced an decrease in HDL-C in female and an increase in HDL-C in male (p < 0.05). EAHm increased significantly the levels of creatinine at 1000 mg/kg dose, and electrolytes level at doses 600 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg in the male rats compare to untreated group (p < 0.05). The EEHm treatments cause significant decrease in urea level of female rats at all doses (p < 0.05) and significant increase of Na+ level at the dose of 300 mg/kg. The EEHm decreased K+ level at the dose of 1000 mg/kg in female rats (p < 0.05). In male rats, it has favorized the increasing of K+ level at the dose of 1000 mg/kg and Cl- levels at all doses (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). Results indicate that oral doses of aqueous extract of Harungana madagascariensis is relatively safe in rats in acute use. But in long term use, it could causes consequences on heart weight, lipid profile and electrolyte homeostasis.