Abstract
Objectives
Several studies have established the ethnobotanical benefits of Pupalia lappacea (PL) in laboratory animals without extensive toxicological evaluation of its safety profiles. Thus, an extensive toxicological investigation of sub-chronic oral administration of the hydroethanol leaf extract of P. lappacea in rodents was carried out in this study.
Methods
Different groups of rats were treated orally with the extract (10, 50 and 250 mg/kg) daily for 90 consecutive days. The control group received distilled water (10 mL/kg). After 90 days, some rats were left for additional 30 days without treatment for reversibility study. Blood and organs samples were collected for different evaluations at the end of study periods.
Results
The extract decreased the bodyweights, feeding and water intakes in female rats. PL increased the weights of the liver and kidney in male rats. PL increased the red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), triglycerides (TRIG), cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) contents in rats. PL (250 mg/kg) significantly reduced the sperm motility and serum testosterone level. Cyto-architectural distortions of the testes, liver and spleen were visible.
Conclusions
The findings showed that P. lappacea is relatively safe at lower doses but cautions should be taken at higher dose.
Acknowledgments
Authors are grateful to the laboratory staff of the department of pharmacology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Shagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria.
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Research funding: This work was funded by the authors.
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Author contributions: All authors played their roles right from the bench work, results analysis, manuscript writing and submission.
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Competing interests: Not applicable.
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Ethical approval: The handling of the experimental animals was in line with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
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