TOXICOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE AND REPEATED DOSE ADMINISTRATIONS OF HYDROETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CITRULLUS VULGARIS SEEDS IN WISTAR RATS
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Date
2017
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Department of Biology, West University of Timişoara, Romania
Abstract
In spite of the wide therapeutic usage of formulations of Citrullus vulgaris seeds, there is still paucity of enriched biochemical information on its safety profiles in animal. Hence, the present study evaluated the acute and sub-chronic toxicological implications of its hydroethanolic extract in Wistar rats using OECD guidelines. In the acute toxicity test, single oral administration of 5000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of the extract was given to the animals and observed for 14 days. The sub-chronic toxicity study was conducted by daily oral administration of graded doses (100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w.) of the extract for 28 days. Clinical signs of toxicity, behavioral changes, hematological, and biochemical parameters were subsequently evaluated. The extract at 5000 mg/kg b.w. produced no treatment-related signs of toxicity, behavioral changes or mortality in the animals. Thus, its No Observed Adverse Effect Level dose was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg b.w. In the sub-chronic study, except for the significantly altered serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase at 100 and 500 mg/ kg b.w., treatments with the extract revealed no significant difference in hematological and clinical biochemistry indices relative to the control. However, the extract dose-dependently and significantly increased the body weight of the treated animals compared to the control group. Cage side observations also recorded no treatment-induce signs of toxicity. In view of these, hydroethanolic seeds extract of C. vulgaris may be concluded to be non-toxic within the tested doses and period of investigation. Hence, it could be adjudged relative safe for consumption in rats.
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Keywords
acute toxicity, erythropoiesis, hematopoietic, sub-chronic toxicity, watermelon.
Citation
21. Garuba, T., Sabiu, S., Ambali, I. A. & Feyijin, I. B. (2017): Toxicological implications of acute and repeated dose administrations of hydroethanolic extract of Citrullus vulgaris seeds in wistar rats. Annals of West University of Timişoara, ser. Biology, 20 (1); 49-58.