Hepatotoxicity in acute and subchronic oral gavage of ethanolic extract of Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh. f. leaf in male sprague dawley rats

Abstract

Increased interest in Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh. f. leaves is due to their real potential of their health-enhancing properties. This study aims to evaluate the possible in vivo toxicity in 14-day acute and 90-day subchronic oral toxicity of ethanolic extract Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh. f. in male Sprague Dawley rats. In the acute study, the rats were divided into control, 5% DMSO (vehicle) and 2000 mg/kg groups. For the subchronic toxicity study, a total of 30 rats were divided into five groups consisting of a control, 5% DMSO (vehicle), low dose (75 mg/kg), medium dose (125 mg/kg) and high dose (250 mg/kg) groups. Rats were analysed for body weight, relative organ weight, haematologically, serum biochemically and histopathologically. The results showed that the single dose and daily dose induced no mortality and haematological changes in male Sprague Dawley rats meanwhile the serum biochemistry results of the acute study showed changes in creatinine kinase (CK) and AST. The histopathology results showed there was significant (p<0.05) hepatic necrosis (mild to moderate) and degeneration (very mild) of liver tissue in the treated group (2000 mg/kg) affecting the periportal area. The same observation was noted in the subchronic study where there were significant histopathological changes in the liver parameters but no significant change on the kidney tissue assessment when comparing the control and treated groups. This study showed significant differences (p<0.05) in hepatic necrosis and activated kupffer cells. The lethal oral dose 50 (LD50) of Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh. f. is greater than 2000 mg/kg and NOAEL is less than 75 mg/kg.