Abstract
Background Withania frutescens. L (W. frutescens) is a perennial woody medicinal plant belonging to family Solanaceae largely used by the indigenous population to Morocco for the treatment of disease. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, acute, and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens extract in mice. Materials and Methods The phytochemical composition of W. frutescens extract was determined using a gas chromatograph (GC/MS). Acute toxicity study was carried out in mice through oral administration of single doses 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was performed with oral administration of repeated doses 500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine), as well as histopathological changes potentially occurred in organs, (liver, kidney, and spleen) were evaluated. Results The results of chromatographic analysis showed the richness of W. frutescens extract in interesting phytochemical compounds majorly constituted of bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane, 6,6-dimethyl-2-methylene-(C10H16). Regarding acute toxicity study, the results showed no clinical symptoms occurred in treated mice compared to the control group and no histological changes detected in analyzed organs of treated mice with dose put to 2000 mg/kg nor adverse effect on biochemical parameters. Conclusion The outcome of this work showed no toxic effect of W. frutescens in mice up to dose 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. Therefore, this study could scientifically validate further traditional use with safety in the range of tested doses.
Highlights
Plants possess the ability to synthesize, through complex metabolic pathways many bioactive compounds that play a crucial role in their adaptive functions versus climatic conditions
Withania frutescens was collected during the period of March-April 2018, 34.01300500° N; 4.75206833° W
The difference in the percentage of detected compounds could be due to the presence of volatile phytochemical compounds that are identified by gas chromatograph (GC/MS)
Summary
Plants possess the ability to synthesize, through complex metabolic pathways many bioactive compounds that play a crucial role in their adaptive functions versus climatic conditions. The use of phytochemical compounds without scientific proof could negatively affect human health through potential toxic effects. To achieve this goal, overall approaches adopted at verifying the scientific validity of plants or their derivatives were used in traditional medicine. The toxicological study is necessary to determine potential toxic doses of plant or their derivatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, acute, and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens extract in mice. The results showed no clinical symptoms occurred in treated mice compared to the control group and no histological changes detected in analyzed organs of treated mice with dose put to 2000 mg/kg nor adverse effect on biochemical parameters. This study could scientifically validate further traditional use with safety in the range of tested doses
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