Biochemical and toxicological implications of ethylacetate fraction of the methanolic extract of Plumbago zeylanica (Linn) root

Abstract

Plumbago zeylanica, Linn. is an important plant with numerous medicinal values. This study was aimed to evaluate the biochemical and toxicological effects of the administration of the ethylacetate fraction of the methanolic extract of Plumbago zeylnica root (EAME). In sub-chronic study, extract doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight were administered orally in rats for 28 days. Biochemical and histological evaluations were carried out on the rats. At the highest dose of EAME, organ-body weight ratio increased by 170% in the liver, spleen by 85%, but reduced in kidney by 62%, lung 17% and heart 7%. In the plasma, administration of EAME at the highest dose increased the concentrations of protein by 11%, albumin 32%, glucose 153%, direct bilirubin 151%, total bilirubin 656%, creatinine 35% and uric acid 29%. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyltansferase were also increased by 6%, 39%, 76% and 46% respectively. The concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol were not significantly different (p>0.05) compared with the control. EAME induced histopathological alterations in the cellular architecture of the liver and lungs. Mild congestion in sinusoids and bile duct proliferation were observed in the liver, while the lung showed necrosis, oedema and haemorrhage. The alterations were more prominent in the lung of rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt. doses. No histopathological alteration was observed in the kidney. These findings indicate that EAME of P. zeylanica root contains bioactive compounds which are toxic to the organism but the action was organ specific.