Sub-Chronic Toxicity of the Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f. (Cucurbitaceae) in Male Rats

Abstract

Background: Due to its nutritional and medicinal values, the leaf of Telfairia occidentalis Hook f. (Cucurbitaceae) is consumed in different parts of Nigeria. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis were investigated in this study. Methods: Sixty-four male rats were randomized into four different groups of 16 animals each and were separately administered 80, 400 and 2000 mg/kg T. occidentalis orally (p.o.) for 60 days. Animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Vital organs were harvested and evaluated for in vivo antioxidants and histopathological changes. Results: A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in weight of the testes, compared to the control group, was observed in the group treated with 2000 mg/kg extract. No significant change was observed in the weight of other vital organs relative to the control group. There were significant (p < 0.01) increases in sperm motility and count in the group administered 80 mg/kg extract and significant (p < 0.001) reductions in both parameters at 2000 mg/kg. There were significant increases in the levels of hemoglobin and packed cell volume at 80 and 2000 mg/kg of the extract. In respect of liver function parameters, significant reductions in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels at doses of 400 and 2000 mg/kg relative to control were observed. Compared to control, the extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the level of total cholesterol (400 mg/kg) and caused a significant increase in the level of high-density lipoprotein (80, 400 and 2000 mg/kg). Significant (p < 0.05) increase in the level of malondialdehyde, decrease in superoxide dismutase level and histopathological abnormalities were observed in the testes at 2000 mg/kg. Upon cessation of treatment with T. occidentalis for 30 days, the observed effects were reversed. Conclusions: The findings showed that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis is relatively non-toxic on acute and sub-chronic exposures at low to moderate doses, with the potential to elicit anti-anemic effects, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and enhance antioxidant status in the brain and liver. Although possibly beneficial at low to moderate doses, the extract could be harmful to the testes with prolonged oral exposure at high dose.

Acute and Sub-Chronic Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Ethanol Leaf Extract of Pavonia senegalensis (Cav.) Liestner in Wistar Rats

“…Serum urea accumulation is used as the acute marker, while serum creatinine accumulation is used in detecting renal toxicity. 2 In this study, the oral administration of P. senegalensis extract showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in creatinine levels at the dose of 600 mg/kg of the extract (Table 3) indicating signs of chronic renal toxicity with increase in dose of the extract. The histological section of the rat kidneys showed a dose-dependent glomerular and tubular necrosis ( Figure 2).…”

“…These factors include hepatic toxicity of the main constituents and contamination of preparations by heavy metals or microorganisms. 2 The goals of toxicity testing are to identify possible adverse effects of exposure to environmental agents, to develop doseresponse relationships that can elucidate the severity of effects associated with known exposures, and ultimately to predict the effects of exposure of human populations. 3 Pavonia senegalensis (Cav.)…”

Haematological, Serum Biochemical and Histological Responses of Cockerels to Long Term Consumption of Telfairia occidentalis Leaves Extract

“…This corroborates with the findings of Akubue et al (1980) who reported venous congestion and in some cases burst vessels in the liver, spleen, lungs and heart of rats given aqueous extract of Telfairia occidentalis while Iweala and Obioda (2009) also reported irregularities in the liver of rats fed Telfairia occidentalis supplemented diet. Acute toxicity including hepatic toxicity have been reported (Akindele et al, 2018;Imosemi, 2018) in mice given Telfairia occidentalis up to 5000 mg/kg orally, with signs of decreased locomotion, calmness, writhing and increased breathing at higher doses of LD50 of intraperitoneal administration at 3000-5000 mg/kg. Although, there were no lesion observed in the testes in all the treatments, cocks on treatments E and F (120 and 150 mL TOLE/L) showed reduced germinal epithelium height and marked sloughing of the germinal epithelium respectively.…”

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“…Herbal preparations currently serve the health needs, and there is clear evidence of the therapeutic benefits they have attained widespread acceptability as therapeutic agents 2,3 . It is a widely held belief that herbal preparations are safe.…”

“…However, despite the belief and claim of being natural and safe, herbal remedies have been associated with lethal effects, which have been attributed to several factors. These factors include hepatic toxicity of the main constituents and contamination of preparations by heavy metals or microorganisms 3 .…”