Sub-Acute Toxicological Evaluation of Methanol Leaf Extract of Nymphaea lotus Linn (Nymphaeceae) in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Nymphaea lotus has been used for centuries as an astringent, aphrodisiac, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and for the treatment of infectious diseases. This study is aimed at evaluating the subacute toxicity profile of methanol leaf extract of Nymphaea lotus in Wistar rats. Rats were administered the crude methanol leaf extract orally for 28 days at 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg. Weekly body weight, food, and water intake were recorded. On the 29th day, the rats were sacrificed, and their hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed, as well as histological examination of the kidney, liver, stomach, and intestine. The extract had no effect on the body weights, relative organ weights, or food and water intakes of the animals. It had no impact on hematological markers at the tested doses (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell, white blood cell, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and platelets concentration), except for alkaline phosphate, which was significantly (p≤0.01) greater at the 500 mg/kg. There was no significant effect on liver function parameters evaluated (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aminotransferase, and aspartate). Urea, creatinine and chloride levels were significantly elevated (p≤0.01 and p≤0.05) at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses, but not at the 1,000 mg/kg dose. Histopathological evaluation of the liver, kidneys, stomach, and intestine revealed no notable histological abnormalities. Based on the results, the methanol leaf extract of Nymphaea lotus appears to be generally safe when taken orally at these doses.