An Evaluation of Toxicity and Mutagenicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the toxicity of S. jollyanum using Fischer 344 male rats and the genotoxic effect of the alcoholic extract of the roots. In experiment 1, haematological, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters were determined after 30, 60 and 90 days of oral administration. Experiment 2 involved determinations of total hepatic cytochrome P-450 content. Pentobarbitone induced sleeping times was measured in experiment 3. These are indices of organ specific toxicity or potential for drug interactions. The mutagenic potential was assessed by reverse mutation test using Salmonella typhimurium TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102 tester strains in experiment 4. There were no significant differences found in most of the hematological, serum biochemical parameters and organ/body weight ratio. No abnormality of any organ was found during histopathological examination and no mutagenicity evidence was detected in any of the mutagenic tests. It, however, caused a significant increase in cytochrome P-450 which correlates well with the decreased pentobarbitone induced sleeping times. The results showed that the no-observed adverse- effect level (NOAEL) of S. jollyanum extract (SJE) was >1000 mg kg-1 body weight per day in rats, which can be regarded as virtually non-toxic. In conclusion, SJE had no overt organ specific toxicity but demonstrates a potential for drug interactions via cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism in the rat.