Abstract
The methanol crude extract of the bark of Psidium guajava (guava) previously displayed interesting cytotoxic effects on a panel of human cancer cell lines. In the present work, we plan to determine the toxicological effects of this guava botanical in Wistar rats. Acute oral toxicity of the extract was carried out by administration of a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight to female rats in 14 days. Subacute toxicity was conducted by oral administration of the extract at daily doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, while rats in the control group received no extract. After 28 days of treatment, animals were sacrificed for hematological and biochemical studies. In the acute toxicity study, no mortality or signs of toxicity were recorded; hence, the median lethal dose (LD50) of the Psidium guajava bark extract is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. For the subacute toxicity study, significant variations in body weight, relative weight of organs, and biochemical parameters were observed in the animals treated at different doses of the plant extract compared to control animals. Histopathological analyses showed minor liver inflammation in females treated at the highest dose (1000 mg/kg). These results suggest that intake of a single high dose of the Psidium guajava bark extract is nontoxic, but repeat administration could exhibit mild organ toxicity.
Highlights
Because of its great diversity in medicinal plants, nature gives humanity the gift of an immense therapeutic wealth [1]. e consumption of natural substances to cure and prevent diseases is old and universal; it plays an important role in access to basic health care for populations [2]
Commonly known as guava, is a plant of the family Myrtaceae, native to South America, but to date widespread throughout the tropical zone especially where the climate is favorable [6]. is medium-sized plant, up to 10 m tall, is used as food, and all its parts have pharmacological properties [7]. It has a plethora of laboratoryproven biological activities such as antimicrobial [8], antidiarrheal [9], hepatoprotective [10], antioxidant [11], and anticancer [12]. is latter activity has already been the subject of numerous studies, as the work of Salib and Michael [13] demonstrated that the aqueous extract of P. guajava leaves inhibits the viability of cancer cell lines DU145 in a dose-dependent manner, while its essential oil has antiproliferative activity four times more potent than that of vincristine, a reference anticancer drug on P388 lines
The literature offers insufficient information on the toxicological effects related to the use of P. guajava extracts
Summary
Because of its great diversity in medicinal plants, nature gives humanity the gift of an immense therapeutic wealth [1]. e consumption of natural substances to cure and prevent diseases is old and universal; it plays an important role in access to basic health care for populations [2]. Is medium-sized plant, up to 10 m tall, is used as food, and all its parts have pharmacological properties [7] It has a plethora of laboratoryproven biological activities such as antimicrobial [8], antidiarrheal [9], hepatoprotective [10], antioxidant [11], and anticancer [12]. The literature reveals that existing plant efficacy data are far more abundant than those for toxicity [15]. In this regard, the literature offers insufficient information on the toxicological effects related to the use of P. guajava extracts. Our study aims to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicities of the methanol extract of the P. guajava bark in Wistar rats
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