Acute toxicity of leaf extracts from sphagneticola trilobata (L.) pruski in rats

Abstract

The aim of this research was designed, to determine the acute toxicity of 80% ethanolic leaf extract from S. trilobata (STLE) in Wistar rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups; group I: controls, group II-IV: rats received STLE 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg respectively. A single oral administration of STLE to the rats revealed that all the doses of STLE did not produce any signs or symptoms of toxicity. And also, the mortal rat was not observed during a period of an observation within 24 h and the further period lasting 14 days. Furthermore, STLE did not affect the body weight, relative organ weight (liver, pancreas, kidney and heart), hematological values including hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocytes, monocyte and platelet, and blood biochemistry including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. Moreover, STLE did not alter blood cell characteristics and ultrastructure of red blood cells. These findings indicate that the leaf extract from S. trilobata has no acute toxicity with LD50 higher than 2000 mg/kg. It is therefore, safe and can be used as traditional medicine or complementary diet without any effect on hepatic and renal function.