Acute Toxicity Study of Porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus) Flour Macerated with Strobilanthes crispus in Wistar Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus) is a local tuber food that high in bioactive compound glucomannan. It uses are limited due to oxalate acid content which poses health risks. Strobilanthes crispus leaves could reduce the level of calcium oxalate in porang. However, there is still no study to prove its safety. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the acute oral toxicity study of porang (A. oncophyllus) macerated with S. crispus based on observation of mortality rate (LD50), the changes in behavior during 72 h, renal and hepatic function such as urinary protein, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels of Wistar rat (Rattus norvegicus) METHODS: An acute toxicity test was conducted based on the Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development 420 Fixed-Dose Procedure Guideline that consists of preliminary and main studies. For the preliminary study, rats were divided into control and five treatment groups with the dosage of 50, 300, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg body weight (BW) for each natural porang flour (NPF) and S. crispus-macerated porang flour (SPF). For the main study, rats were divided into four groups, those were NPF and SPF with the dosage of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg BW. Levels of urinary protein and blood serum SGOT and SGPT levels were measured at 0, 24, and 72 after treatment. RESULTS: The acute toxicity study showed that porang and porang macerated with S. crispus were not toxic until the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg BW. It was proved by the absence of LD50, no change in behavior, no weight losses, and also the results of biochemical tests, such as urinary protein, SGOT, and SGPT which were still in the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Porang flour and SPF were concluded as non-toxic food based on acute toxicity study.