Abstract
Tectona grandis (T. grandis) is a medicinal plant widely used in Cameroon to treat typhoid fever and several other diseases. Despite its heavy use for medical purposes, no study has yet been conducted to assess its potentially toxic effects. This study aimed at evaluating the acute and subchronic toxicological profile of Tectona grandis leaf extract in rats. The acute toxicity study revealed neither behavioral disturbances nor death in rats. The lethal dose (DL50) of this extract is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. The subchronic toxicity study showed no significant change in weight gain in rats at test doses throughout the treatment period. However, there was a significant decrease in alanine transaminase activity and serum protein levels at all doses. Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased at doses of 30, 90, and 270 mg/kg and increased at the dose of 810 mg/kg body weight. Serum and urinary urea levels increased simultaneously at doses of 270 and 810 mg/kg body weight. Repeated administration of the extract also increased total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein levels in both sexes were compared to respective controls, and the ratio of high- to low-density lipoprotein was found to be greater than 1 in all animals. However, at the dose of 810 mg/kg, necrosis was observed on the kidney sections and vascular congestion on the liver sections of animals. Aqueous extract of T. grandis did not lead to any adverse effects in rats after acute and subchronic treatment at 30 and 90 mg/kg doses. This extract can, therefore, be used for the formulation of typhoid fever phytomedicine at the therapeutic dose of 30 mg/kg, but before this, chronic and mutagenic toxicity evaluations must be carried out.
Highlights
Many research works have recognized the beneficial effects of medicinal plants on health as well as their capacity to prevent many diseases [1]. e use of medicinal plants which are readily available and efficacious would, be a better and affordable alternative for boosting and enhancing health [2]
Previous toxicological studies showed that the methanolic seed and leaf extract of T. grandis is nontoxic after single orally administration to albino mice [16, 17]
Knowing that the chemical composition and the activity/toxicity of a plant may vary depending on the harvested site and type of extracting solvent, it is important to study the potential side effects that the consumption of the “Cameroonian” species of T. grandis can cause to the consumer after single and repeated administration
Summary
Many research works have recognized the beneficial effects of medicinal plants on health as well as their capacity to prevent many diseases [1]. e use of medicinal plants which are readily available and efficacious would, be a better and affordable alternative for boosting and enhancing health [2]. E use of medicinal plants which are readily available and efficacious would, be a better and affordable alternative for boosting and enhancing health [2]. Erefore, safety/toxicity evaluation of these plants such as Tectona grandis using animal models is widely encouraged, since the responses of these animals to chemical agents could be translated to humans. Previous toxicological studies showed that the methanolic seed and leaf extract of T. grandis is nontoxic after single orally administration to albino mice [16, 17]. Knowing that the chemical composition and the activity/toxicity of a plant may vary depending on the harvested site and type of extracting solvent, it is important to study the potential side effects that the consumption of the “Cameroonian” species of T. grandis can cause to the consumer after single and repeated administration
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