Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the ethanolic extract of the root of Oncoba spinosa (Flacourtiaceae) in rodents

Kumar M Prasanth¹ , Suba V², Ramireddy B³, Babu P Srinivasa⁴

¹Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Telangana; ²Department of Pharmacology, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai; ³NATCO Pharma, Hyderabad, Telangana; ⁴Vignan Pharmacy College, Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhrapradesh, India.

For correspondence:- Kumar Prasanth Email: prasanth.pharmacology@gmail.com

Received: 12 October 2014 Accepted: 27 July 2015 Published: 31 October 2015

Citation: Prasanth KM, V S, B R, Srinivasa BP. Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the ethanolic extract of the root of Oncoba spinosa (Flacourtiaceae) in rodents. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(10):1849-1855 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i10.16

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the toxicological profile of the ethanol extract of Oncoba spinosa (EEOS) after acute and sub-chronic administration to rodents.

Methods: In the acute toxicity study, a single administration of the extract at doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg, respectively, was given to the mice. Mice were observed for general behavioural changes, adverse effects and mortality up to 14 days post-treatment. In sub-acute toxicity studies, EEOS was given orally to male and female rats at doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. Body weight, food intake and water intake were monitored throughout the experimental period; hematological parameters, biochemical parameters of the blood and histopathology of various organs were also evaluated at the end of the experiment.

Results: In the acute toxicity study, both the doses used did not cause any mortality or significant behavioural changes. Daily oral administration of EEOS for 28 days, in the sub-chronic toxicity study, did not show any treatment-related abnormalities with regard to hematological and biochemical parameters. There were no significant differences in body weight and organ weight between the control and treated groups (p < 0.05). Histological analysis did not show any morphological changes in the major vital organs (liver, kidney, stomach, spleen, brain and heart) tested.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the extract may not have any single dose toxicity. The LD50 value is greater than 5000 mg/kg. The no-observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) was considered to be 1000 mg/kg for male and female rats, respectively.

Keywords: Oncoba spinosa, Acute and sub-acute toxicity, Hematological, Biochemical parameters