Planta Med 2013; 79 - P80
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1336522

Acute and Chronic Toxicity Studies of the Water and Ethanol Extracts of Natural and Callus Cultures of Munronia pinnata in Healthy Wistar Rats

SD Hapuarachchi 1, TS Suresh 2, WTPSK Senerath 3
  • 1Department of Dravyaguna Vignana, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
  • 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
  • 3Department of Botany, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

The previous studies of the water and ethanol extracts of natural plant and callus cultures of Munronia pinnata (MP) have showed dose dependent hypoglycemic [1,2] and anti-inflammatory activity [3] in rats. Despite its long record of usage in indigenous clinical practice, the toxicity study of MP has not been completed yet using scientifically controlled experiments. This investigation was design to study the toxicity of water and ethanol extracts of natural plants and callus cultures of MP in healthy rats. The water and ethanol extracts of both tested materials were prepared as reported previously work [1,2]. In the present study, both extracts were evaluated for acute and chronic toxicity study over 24 hrs and a 3 month period after single and multiple dose administration in healthy rats. After 24 hr and 3 months, blood samples were collected from all groups for haematological and biochemical assays. The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), γ-Glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine and haemoglobin (Hb) were estimated using commercial reagent kits. In this study MP produced neither mortality nor changes in behavioral activity in rats. Hematological and biochemical values showed no statistically significant changes (p ≥0.05) in the test groups compared to the control group. All results were within the reference values for the strain and age of the animals used [3]. These results (Table 1) revealed that the water and ethanol extracts of M. pinnata cali and natural plant do not exert any adverse effects as assessed by the parameters studied.

Table 1: Hematological and biochemical values after multiple dose administration for three month in healthy rats

MP water

extract

MP Cali water

extract

MP Ethanol

extract

MP Cali Ethanol

extract

Control group

AST (IU/L)

46.6 ± 1.5

47.8 ± 0.9

46.3 ± 1.2

47.1 ± 1.3

47.2 ± 2

ALT (IU/L)

47.4 ± 2.3

47.2 ± 2

49.5 ± 1

50.8 ± 1.4

57.2 ± 1.2

ALP (IU/L)

242.8 ± 1.9

249.3 ± 1

242.1 ± 2

252.6 ± 0.8

247.1 ± 1

Creatinine (µmol/L)

74.9 ± 1.4

73.8 ± 2.1

74.3 ± 1

73.2 ± 1.6

72.0 ± 1

GGT (µl/L)

2.24 ± 0.2

2.5 ± 0.3

2.26 ± 0.1

3.65 ± 0.1

2.5 ± 0.2

Haemoglobin (g/L)

16.14 ± 1.2

16.2 ± 1

16.5 ± 1.7

15.22 ± 0.9

15.12 ± 1

Glucose (mmol/L)

7.1 ± 1.3

7.21 ± 2

7.3 ± 1.2

7.1 ± 2.6

8.5 ± 2.5

Acknowledgements: University of Grant commission, Sri Lanka for Research Grants- 2008, National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka for Equipment Grant – 2006. References: [1] Hapuarachchi SD, Suresh TS, Senerath WTPSK, (2011) SLJIM, 1: 1 – 4. [2] Hapuarachchi SD, Suresh TS, Senerath WTPSK (2012) Planta Med, 78: 540. [3] Sanderson JH, Phillips CE (1981) An Atlas of Laboratory Animal Heamatology. Oxford University Press, New York, 38 – 87.