Investigation of Safety Profile of the Essential oil of piper guineensis (Schum and Thonn) Fruit Following Repeated Dose Administration in Wistar Rats
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Pharmacology, Falculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Abstract
This study determined the mean lethal dose (LD50) of the essential oil of dried fruit of Piper guineensis, evaluated the effects of the graded doses on haematological and plasma biochemical indices following repeated doses and determined the histopathological effects in rats. This was with the view to establishing its safety profile and provide information on the toxicity potential following a long-term usage.
The essential oil of P. guineensis (EOPG) fruits was obtained by hydro-distillation using Clavengerlike apparatus. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, OAU, Ile-Ife. The LD50 of the EOPG was determined via oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes using Lorke’s method. Repeated dose toxicity study was performed orally on 3 test groups of rats and a negative control. The first group was dosed at 1000 mg/kg, p.o., second group (n=12) at 500 mg/kg, p.o., and third group (n=12) at 250 mg/kg, p.o. for 28 days. While the negative control (n=12) received 5% Tween 80 (1mL/kg, p.o.) daily for 28 days. Weight and rectal temperatures were measured before the commencement of the experiment and weekly. Two subsets for each group were selected (Toxicity sets and Recovery sets) and sacrificed on days 29 and 49 respectively. Blood sample was collected for haematological and biochemical assays while the liver, kidney and brain were harvested for histology. Results were expressed as Mean ± SEM while data was analysed by SPSS using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significance value was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that the LD50 values for the oil for both oral and intraperitoneal routes were 4475 and 1118 mg/kg respectively. The repeated dose toxicity caused significant hypothermia and weight gain when compared with negative controls. The oil also caused significant hyper-albuminaemia which declined significantly only in the 250 mg/kg recovery group. The liver transaminases (ALT and AST) increased significantly in the toxicity sets with persistent significant elevation of only the ALT in the recovery sets while the plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly only in the recovery sets. The oil significantly reduced the plasma urea concentration and increased the creatinine concentration in the toxicity sets with significant persistent decline in the recovery set.
The white blood cell counts were elevated with significantly persistent lymphocytosis, monocytopenia and neutropenia. There were significant anaemia and macrocytosis only in the 250 mg/kg recovery set and significant persistent thrombocytopenia. Histology of the sectioned organs showed extensive tubular necrosis of the kidneys and lymphocytic infiltration of portal triad with cystic dilations and focal necrosis of the hepatocytes. The histology of the recovery sets showed mild tubular necrosis and inflammation for the kidneys and liver respectively. The study concluded that the essential oil of Piper guineensis was slightly toxic orally and intraperitoneally in rats causing significant hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and haematotoxicity in rats for which some effects were partially reversible after recovery.
Description
1,92pgs
Keywords
Citation
(2022) Investigation of Safety Profile of the Essential oil of piper guineensis (Schum and Thonn) Fruit Following Repeated Dose Administration in Wistar Rats,Department of Pharmacology, Falculty of Pharmarcy, Obafemi Awolowo University