Toxic effects of Litsea elliptica Blume essential oil on red blood cells of Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

Litsea elliptica Blume leaves have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs because of its antimutagenicity, chemopreventative and insecticidal properties. In this study, the toxic effects of L. elliptica essential oil against Sprague-Dawley rat's red blood cells (RBCs) were evaluated. L. elliptica essential oil was given by oral gavage 5 times per week for 3 treated groups in the doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/(kg body weight), respectively, and the control group received distilled water. Full blood count, RBC osmotic fragility, RBC morphological changes, and RBC membrane lipid were analyzed 28 d after the treatment. Although L. elliptica essential oil administration had significantly different effects on hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) in the experimental groups as compared to the control group (P<0.05), the values were still within the normal range. L. elliptica induced morphological changes of RBC into the form of echinocyte. The percentage of echinocyte increased significantly among the treated groups in a dose-response manner (P<0.001). The concentrations of RBC membrane phospholipids and cholesterol of all treated groups were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.001). However, the RBC membrane osmotic fragility and total proteins of RBC membrane findings did not differ significantly between control and treated groups (P>0.05). It is concluded that structural changes in the RBC membrane due to L. elliptica essential oil administration did not cause severe membrane damage.

Quercetin Nanoparticles Repressed Liver and Brain Toxicities Induced by Tartrazine in Rats

“…Additionally, TZ declined Hb%, RBCs count and HCT% significantly as in previous studies 54,55 . These changes may be due to the prevention of red blood cell synthesis via inhibition of erythropoisis in the bone marrow 56 as well as increase fragility and progressive destruction of RBCs due to binding of free radicals produced by TZ 57 .…”

An evaluation of the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxicity of the leaves of Litsea elliptica Blume – An ethnomedicinal plant from Brunei Darussalam

“…Litsea elliptica Blume is a species within the Lauraceae family that can be widely found in the South East Asian forests ( Wong et al, 2014 , Taib et al, 2009 , Goh et al, 2017 ). The leaf of this tropical tree has been remarked for its ability to treat and prevent ailments such as stomach ulcers, cancer, fever and headaches by the local communities of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Thailand ( Taib et al, 2009 , Goh et al, 2017 , Grosvenor et al, 1995 , Suksamerkun et al, 2013 , Bhamarapravati et al, 2002 ). In these regions, locals respectively have referred to the plant as “Pawas”, “Madang Perawas” and “Tham-mung”.…”

Sub-Acute Oral Toxicity Profiling of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Clinacanthus Nutans in Male and Female Icr Mice

“…It also transports the metabolic waste products to the kidneys and liver to filter and excrete. Low RBCs are usually associated with anemia [32]. Adedapo et al [33] found that using crude aqueous extracts of Euphorbia over a period of 14 d of oral feeding led to low RBCs (anemia) in albino rats.…”