Acute and subchronic toxicological evaluation of Echinophora platyloba DC (Apiaceae) total extract in Wistar rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:Echinophora platyloba DC is a widely used herbal medicine and food seasoning in Iran. It is claimed to exert antimicrobial, antifungal, and antispasmodic effects. Despite the prevalent use of this plant as a food and medicine, there are no reports on its possible toxic effects. To evaluate the safety of E. platyloba, we tested its acute and sub-chronic toxicity in male and female Wistar rats.METHODS:Rats were orally treated with four different single doses of E. platyloba total extract and screened for signs of toxicity two weeks after administration. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, E. platyloba was administered for 45 days. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, hematological and biochemical parameters, gross findings, organ weights, and histological markers were monitored during the study.RESULTS:We found no mortality and no abnormality in clinical signs, body weight, or necropsy findings in any of the animals in the acute study. The results of the subchronic study showed no significant difference in hematological parameters in either sex. There was a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase in the female groups. A significant increase in the relative lung weight of female rats was noted at 500 mg/kg. Histopathological examinations revealed intra-alveolar hemorrhage in the male rats (500 mg/kg). In the females, congestion of the alveolar capillaries (at 500 mg/kg) and liver bridging necrosis (at 200 mg/kg) were significantly increased.CONCLUSION:The no observed adverse effect level of E. platyloba was determined to be 200 and 50 mg/kg for male and female rats, respectively.

A review of botany and pharmacological effect and chemical composition ofEchinophoraspecies growing in Iran

“…This plant with the local name Fedaleh is used as a seasoning in food, and local people use this in pickle and tomato sauce as preservatives, antifungal, and antimicrobial. [ 4 5 ]…”

“…Acute and chronic toxicity effects of the extract have been investigated by Mirghazanfari et al ., where the results show that Echinophora extract at a dose of 50–200 mg/kg is safe and a dose of 500 mg/kg of Wistar rats body weight is toxic. [ 4 ] Finally, studying the extracts and essential oil of this plant showed that the extract has antispasmodic effect to stimulate muscle contraction and bowel. [ 66 ]…”

“…It is an aromatic plant with a pleasant flavor, which, in addition to its numerous food consumption, has medicinal uses. [ 4 5 ]…”

The comparison of antimutagenicity and anticancer activities of Echinophora platyloba DC on acute promyelocytic leukemia cancer cells

“…[9] Taking into consideration, the potent antifungal and antibacterial activity suggested that the methanolic extract of Echinophora platyloba DC could be a potentialcandidate as a cytotoxic and growth inhibitory agent. [10,11] The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity effects of crude methanolic extract of E. platyloba in Salmonella typhimurium (TA100) and malignant cell line in vitro respectively. Ames test is one of the most current test to assay anticancer and antimutagenesis effects using bacteria with special mutants [3].…”

Safety Assessment of Osthole Isolated from Prangos ferulacea: Acute and Subchronic Toxicities and Modulation of Cytochrome P450

“…Clinical signs exhibited by the mice were observed prior to dosing at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours post-dosing and daily thereafter for 14 days. Animals were observed for general behavioral change, body weigh change, and mortality for a period of 14 days post treatment (16). The number of dead animals in each group at the end of the study was expressed as percentage.…”