Acute toxicity studies of aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus niruri

George Awuku Asare, Phyllis Addo, Kwasi Bugyei, Ben Gyan, Samuel Adjei, Lydia Serwaa Otu-Nyarko, Edwin Kwame Wiredu, Alexander Nyarko, George Awuku Asare, Phyllis Addo, Kwasi Bugyei, Ben Gyan, Samuel Adjei, Lydia Serwaa Otu-Nyarko, Edwin Kwame Wiredu, Alexander Nyarko

Abstract

Phyllanthus niruri is a plant with medicinal properties. It is often used to treat mild malaria and the elimination of renal stones. However, studies on its toxicity are scarce. The study was carried out to determine if the aqueous leaf extract of P. niruri administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats would illicit evidence of toxicity. Fifteen female rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into 3 groups. Rats in Group 1 were given a single low dose (LD) of 2000 mg/kg b.w. of the extract by oral gavage within 24 hrs. Rats in Group 2 were given a single high dose (HD) of 5000 mg/kg b.w. of the extract by oral gavage within 24 hrs. Rats in Group 3 were not given any extract but drinking water and served as the control group (C). All the rats were observed for signs of toxidromes for 14 days. On the 15(th) day, all the rats were sacrificed. Body organs were harvested for macroscopic examination. Urine and blood samples were drawn and analyzed. Hematological tests performed included full blood count and hemoglobin. Biochemical examinations included bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatse (ALP), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), urea, and creatinine. The results of the three groups were not significantly different. Examination of the various body organs did not show any abnormality. Thus no toxicity was observed at the levels administered. The LD(50) of the aqueous extract is>5000 mg/kg. b.w.

Keywords: P. niruri; acute toxicity; leaf extract.

References

    1. Adeneye AA, Amole OO, Adeneye AK. Hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of the aqueous leaf and seed extract of Phyllanthus amarus in mice. Fitoterapia. 2006;77:511–514.
    1. Ali H, Houghton PJ, Soumyanath A. Alpha-Amylase inhibitory activity of some Malaysian plants used to treat diabetes; with particular reference to Phyllanthus amarus. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;107:449–455.
    1. Barros ME, Lima R, Mercuri LP, Matos JR, Schor N, Boim MA. Effect of Extract of Phyllanthus niruri on crystal deposition in experimental urolithiasis. Urol Res. 2006;34:351–357.
    1. Barros ME, Schor N, Boim MA. Effects of an aqueous extract from Phyllantus niruri on calcium oxalate crystallization in vitro. Urol Res. 2003;30:374–379.
    1. Campos AH, Schor N. Phyllanthus niruri inhibits calcium oxalate endocytosis by renal tubular cells: its role in urolithiasis. Nephron. 1999;81:393–397.
    1. Chatterjee SPC. Hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri on nimesulide-induced oxidative stress in vivo. Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2006;43:299–305.
    1. Cimanga RK, Tona L, Luyindula N, Mesia K, Lusakibanza M, Musuamba CT, Apers S, De Bruyne T, Van Miert S, Hermans N, Totté J, Pieters L, Vlietinck AJ. In vitro antiplasmodial activity of callus culture extracts and fractions from fresh apical stems of Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae). part 2. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;95:399–404.
    1. De Smet PAGM. Health risks of herbal remedies: an update. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004;76:1–17.
    1. Doshi JC, Vaidya AB, Antarkar DS, Deolalikar R, Antani DH. A two-stage clinical trial of Phyllanthus amarus in hepatitis B carriers: failure to eradicate the surface antigen. Indian J Gastroenterol. 1994;13:7–8.
    1. Freitas AM, Schor N, Boim MA. The effect of Phyllanthus niruri on urinary inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and other factors associated with renal stone formation. BJU Int. 2002;89:829–834.
    1. Gad SC, Chengelis CP. Caldwell, N.J.: The Telford Press; 1988. Acute toxicity testing perspectives and horizons; pp. 2–4. 318, 156, 165–167, 159.
    1. Iizuka T, Moriyama H, Nagai M. Vasorelaxant effects of methyl brevifolincarboxylate from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri . Biol Pharm Bull. 2006;29:177–179.
    1. Klaassen CD, Eaton DL. Principles of toxicology. In: Amdur MO, Doull JD, Klaassen CD, editors. Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poison. New York: Pergamon Press; 1991. pp. 32–33.
    1. Lee KW, Lee HJ, Lee CY. Hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus in Taiwan on acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34:471–482.
    1. Mehrotra R, Rawat S, Kulshreshtha DK, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN. In vitro studies on the effect of certain natural products against hepatitis B virus. Indian J Med Res. 1990;92:133–138.
    1. Miguel OG, Calixto JB, Santos AR, Messana I, Ferrari F, Cechinel Filho V, Pizzolatti MG, Yunes RA. Chemical and preliminary analgesic evaluation of geraniin and furosin isolated from Phyllanthus sellowianus . Planta Med. 1996;62:146–149.
    1. Milne A, Hopkirk N, Lucas CR, Waldon J, Foo Y. Failure of New Zealand hepatitis B carriers to respond to Phyllanthus amarus . N Z Med J. 1994;107:243.
    1. Mustofa , Sholikhah EN, Wahyuono S. In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of extracts of Phyllanthus niruri L. herbs traditionally used to treat malaria in Indonesia. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007;38:609–615.
    1. NC3RS. NC3RS: 2007. National Centre for Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Resaerch.
    1. Rajeshkumar NV, Joy KL, Kuttan G, Ramsewak RS, Nair GM, Kuttan R. Antitumour and anticarcinogenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81:17–22.
    1. Rajeshkumar NV, Kuttan R. Phyllanthus amarus extract administration increases the life span of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;73:215–219.
    1. Raphael KR, Ajith TA, Swarnam J, Kuttan R. Anti-mutagenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn in vitro as well as in vivo . Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis. 2002;22:285–291.
    1. Santos AR, Filho VC, Niero R, Viana AM, Moreno FN, Campos MM, Yunes RA, Calixto JB. Analgesic effects of callus culture extracts from selected species of Phyllanthus in mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994;46:755–759.
    1. Sripanidkulchai B, Tattawasart U, Laupatarakasem P, Vinitketkumneun U, Sripanidkulchai K, Furihata C, Matsushima T. Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of Phyllanthus amarus . Phytomedicine. 2002;9:26–32.
    1. Srividya N, Periwal S. Diuretic, hypotensive and hypoglycaemic effect of Phyllanthus amarus . Indian J Exp Biol. 1995;33:861–864.
    1. Taylor L. 2nd edn. Sage Press, Inc.; 2003. Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest; p. 3.
    1. Thamlikitkul V, Wasuwat S, Kanchanapee P. Efficacy of Phyllanthus amarus for eradication of hepatitis B virus in chronic carriers. J Med Assoc Thai. 1991;74:381–385.
    1. Tona L, Ngimbi NP, Tsakala M, Mesia K, Cimanga K, Apers S, De Bruyne T, Pieters L, Totté J, Vlietinck AJ. Antimalarial activity of 20 crude extracts from nine African medicinal plants used in Kinshasa, Congo. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;68:193–203.
    1. Wang BE. Treatment of chronic liver diseases with traditional Chinese medicine. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000;15(Suppl):E67–70.
    1. Williamson EM, Okpako DT, Evans FJ. Pharmacological methods in phytotherapy research. Vol 1. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.; 1996. Selection, preparation and pharmacological evaluation of plant material; pp. 131–154.

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren