Abstract
This study evaluated the safety of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (Lythraceae) stem bark hydroalcoholic extract (LPE) through acute and subchronic toxicological assessments in mice. In the acute toxicity evaluation, a single 2000 mg/kg oral dose of LPE was administered to mice and clinical observations were conducted for 14 days. For subchronic toxicity, LPE doses (6.25-1000 mg/kg) were administered orally for 28 days and biochemical, hematological, histopathological analyses and renal and liver expression of Ki-67 were carried out. The acute oral toxicity evaluation of LPE showed no toxicity in mice and it was was classified as category 5 (LD50>2000-5000 mg/kg). In a repeated dose 28-day toxicity study, LPE (100-1000 mg/kg) led to an increase in reticulocytes, which suggests a possible proliferative effect on blood cells. In addition, LPE (400-1000 mg/kg) of produced alterations in biochemical parameters, although no microscopic changes were found in the organs analyzed. A normal expression of the Ki-67 cell proliferation indicator was observed in the kidney and liver tissues, which suggests that LPE does not bring about changes in the proliferative activity of these organs. In conclusion, LPE should be used with caution, particularly in larger doses over longer periods and also in combination with other medication.
Highlights
Several other phytochemicals have been identified in hydroalcoholic extract preparations, as well as their organic fractions, such as chalcones, aurones, free xanthones, heterosides, leucoanthocyanidins, anthraquinones, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, gallic acid and ellagic acid, which is the main active compound of this plant (Solon et al, 2000; Lima et al, 2006b; Rogerio et al, 2006; Galdino et al, 2009; 2015; Nascimento et al, 2011; Sampaio et al, 2011; Tamashiro Filho et al, 2012)
Scientific studies have corroborated the popular use of L. pacari stem bark as an anti-inflammatory agent (Rogerio et al, 2006; Matos et al, 2008; Rogerio et al, 2008a) through the inhibition of inflammatory parameters such as interleukin-5 and eosinophil migration (Rogerio et al, 2003; 2008b; Rogerio, Sá-Nunes, Faccioli, 2010)
This study evaluated the safety of Lafoensia pacari stem bark hydroalcholic extract (LPE), through acute oral systemic toxicity and repeated dose 28-day toxicity studies in mice, since the most L. pacari preparations used by Brazilians are made using stem bark maceration in alcoholic preparations (Galdino et al, 2015)
Summary
Its stem bark has been used to treat gastric ulcers, cancer, diarrhea, kidney diseases and inflammatory processes in Brazilian popular medicine (Proença, Oliveira, Silva, 2000; Solon et al, 2000; Lima et al, 2006a; Nascimento et al, 2011). Several other phytochemicals have been identified in hydroalcoholic extract preparations, as well as their organic fractions, such as chalcones, aurones, free xanthones, heterosides, leucoanthocyanidins, anthraquinones, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, gallic acid and ellagic acid, which is the main active compound of this plant (Solon et al, 2000; Lima et al, 2006b; Rogerio et al, 2006; Galdino et al, 2009; 2015; Nascimento et al, 2011; Sampaio et al, 2011; Tamashiro Filho et al, 2012). Despite the above-mentioned scientific evidence, and the use of the L. pacari stem bark hydroalcoholic extract (LPE) in Brazilian popular medicine, the toxicity data on this plant are still scarce. At the end of each experiment, the mice were anesthetized with intraperitoneally administered xylazine (10 mg/kg) and ketamine hydrochloride (100 mg/kg) and euthanized by cervical dislocation (Hubrecht, Kirkwood, 2010)
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