Toxicity Studies on Chloroform Extract of Solanum trilobatum: Effect on Drug Metabolizing and Antioxidant Enzymes in Rats

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of chloroform extract of Solanum trilobatum (CST) on drug metabolizing and antioxidant defense enzymes for assessing its chemo preventive potential and protection of tissues from oxidative damage. The CST was obtained by soxhlet extraction with chloroform. Animals (Male Sprague Dawley rats) were divided into three groups: Group I-normal control, group II-CST (200 mg kgG1 b.wt.), group III-CST (800 mg kgG1 b.wt.). The CST was given by oral gavage once daily for 15 days. At the end of the experimental period all the rats were sacrificed and the livers, lungs and kidneys were taken for estimating the phase I and II drug metabolizing and antioxidant enzyme activities. The gain in body weight and the levels of GSH and lipid peroxides in these tissues were also determined. The results showed that the administration of CST could modulate the phase I and phase II enzymes that are critical for cancer protection. Administration of CST at 200 and 800 mg kgG1 b.wt. to animals did not cause any apparent clinical signs as survivability or visible changes caused by toxicity in the liver, lungs and kidney. Administration of CST at a dose of (800 mg kgG1 b.wt.) was found to be ineffective in elevating the phase I enzymes suggesting that CST could possibly prevent the biotransformation of carcinogens. These results clearly indicate that CST with its biologically active components could be used as a chemo preventive agent in treating various cancers.