TOCOSH FLOUR (Solanum tuberosum L.): A Toxicological Assessment of Traditional Peruvian Fermented Potatoes.

Jonas Roberto Velasco-Chong,Renán Dilton Hañari-Quispe,Andres F Yepes-Perez,Ricardo Ángel Yuli-Posadas,Cristian Aguilar,Vidalina Andía-Ayme,Oscar Herrera-Calderón,Gilmar Peña-Rojas,Linder Figueroa-Salvador,Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas

doi:10.3390/foods9060719

Abstract

Potato tocosh is a naturally processed potato for nutritional and curative purposes from traditional Peruvian medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and sub-acute toxicity of tocosh flour (TF). For sub-acute toxicity, TF was administered orally to rats daily once a day for 28 days at doses of 1000 mg/kg body weight (BW). Animals were observed for general behaviors, mortality, body weight variations, and histological analysis. At the end of treatment, relative organ weights, histopathology, hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed. For acute toxicity, TF was administered orally to mice at doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg BW at a single dose in both sexes. Body weight, mortality, and clinical signs were observed for 14 days after treatment. The results of acute toxicity showed that the median lethal dose (LD50) value of TF is higher than 2000 g/kg BW but less than 5000 mg/Kg BW in mice. Death and toxicological symptoms were not found during the treatment. For sub-acute toxicity, we found that no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of TF in rats up to 1000 g/kg BW. There were statistically significant differences in body weight, and relative organ weight in the stomach and brain. No differences in hematological and biochemical parameters were observed when compared with the control group. For sub-acute toxicity, histopathological studies revealed minor abnormalities in liver and kidney tissues at doses of 5000 mg/Kg. Based on these results, TF is a traditional Peruvian medicine with high safety at up to 1000 mg/kg BW for 28 days in rats.

Highlights

Solanum tuberosum L. (Family: Solanaceae) is one of the most important Andean crops, cultivated along the Andean mountain range of South America and spread to other regions worldwide [1].Over time, Andean farmers have developed frost and drought-resistant crops, which can be planted at heights greater than 3800 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
Tocosh flour consumption is invariable, the normal dose known in traditional medicine is between 500 and 1000 mg/Kg daily
The collected tocosh was washed in order to remove foreign matter and dust, allowed to glycosylated forms of the steroidal alkaloid solanidine, these often improve the flavor of the potato [9]

Summary

Introduction

Solanum tuberosum L. (Family: Solanaceae) is one of the most important Andean crops, cultivated along the Andean mountain range of South America and spread to other regions worldwide [1].Over time, Andean farmers have developed frost and drought-resistant crops, which can be planted at heights greater than 3800 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Since Inca and Pre-Incas times, the inhabitants of Ancash, Huánuco, and Junín regions have used tocosh as a medicine, in the form of flour or in its natural state to prepare mazamorra (Api in the Quechua language), is the best-known form of consumption (see Figure 1: Elaboration of tocosh). Tocosh flour (TF) is attributed to some beneficial properties such as gastritis, ulcers, gastro-esophagi reflux, and gastric cancer. People consume it by dissolving one teaspoonful per 100 mL in water before food as an alternative treatment. Tocosh flour consumption is invariable, the normal dose known in traditional medicine is between 500 and 1000 mg/Kg daily

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