Assessment of acute, subacute genetic toxicities and immunomodulatory activity of palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) buds.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Palm buds are a natural green resource of the forest, which are not only rich in nutrients but contain a large number of phenolic acids and flavonoids, among other components. It has a variety of biological activities such as antioxidant and uterine smooth muscle stimulation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the safety of palm buds for use as a nutraceutical product and food by evaluating the toxicity, subacute toxicity and genotoxicity of the young palm buds. Also studied for its immune-enhancing activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute toxicity tests were performed in mice using the maximum tolerance method, and the manifestations of toxicity and deaths were recorded after administration of 10,000 mg/mL for 14 consecutive d (days) of observations. To assess subacute toxicity, mice were treated with palm buds (750, 1500, or 3000 mg/mL) daily for 28 days. The teratogenicity of palm buds was assessed by the Ames test, the mouse bone marrow cell micronucleus test, and the mouse spermatozoa malformation test. In addition, we evaluated the immune-enhancing ability of palm buds by the mouse carbon profile test, delayed-type metamorphosis reaction, and serum hemolysin assay. RESULTS: In the acute toxicity study, the Median Lethal Dose (LD50) was greater than 10,000 mg/kg bw in both male and female rats. There were also no deaths or serious toxicities in the subacute study. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was 3000 mg/kg bw. However, the mice's food intake decreased after one week. The medium and high dose groups had a reducing effect on body weight in mice of both sexes. In addition, the changes in organ coefficients of the liver, kidney and stomach in male mice were significantly higher in the high-dose group (3.23 ± 0.35, 0.75 ± 0.05, 0.57 ± 0.05 g) than in the control group (2.94 ± 0.18, 0.58 ± 0.05, 0.50 ± 0.02 g). Hematological analyses showed that all the indices of the rats in each palm sprout dose group were within the normal range. The results of blood biochemical indicators showed that there was a significant reduction in TP in the blood of male mice in the high-dose group (44.6 ± 7.8 g/L) compared to the control group (58.3 ± 15.1 g/L). In histopathological analysis, none of the significant histopathological changes were observed. The results of the immunological experiment in mice showed that the liver coefficient and thymus coefficient of the high-dose group (8400 mg/kg) were significantly lower than the control group. There was no remarkable difference in auricle swelling between each dose palm bud group (1400, 2800, or 8400 mg/kg) and the control group. The anti-volume number of the high-dose group was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Palm buds have non-toxic effects in vivo and have little effect on non-specific and cellular immunity in the test mice within the dose range of this experiment. The immunoenhancement in mice is mainly achieved through humoral immunity. In conclusion, our results suggest that palm buds are safe for use as healthcare products and food.

Assessment of cytotoxicity, acute, subacute toxicities and antioxidant activities (in vitro) of Sanghuangporus vaninii crude polysaccharide.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Sanghuangporus vaninii (S. vaninii), as a traditional large medicinal fungus, has a history of more than 2000 years in Chinese history and has been widely used to treat female diseases such as vaginal discharge, amenorrhea, and uterine bleeding, and recent pharmacological studies have also found that it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor physiological activity, which has received more and more attention. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective was to evaluate cytotoxicity and the acute, subacute toxicity, and in vitro antioxidant activity of S. vaninii crude polysaccharide (SVP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The monosaccharide composition of SVP was determined by HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). The cytotoxicity of different concentrations of SVP on three types of cells (HT-22, Kupffer macrophages, HEK293) was assessed using CCk-8. The acute toxicity in vivo was evaluated for 14 days after the administration of SVP (2500,5000, or 10,000 mg/mL). For the evaluation of subacute toxicity, mice were daily treated for 28 days with SVP (2500,5000, or 10,000 mg/mL). In addition, DPPH, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion radical were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of SVP. RESULTS: SVP was not toxic in all three cell lines tested. In vitro antioxidant tests on the extracts showed that SVP possessed a strong antioxidant capacity in vitro. In the acute study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) in male and female rats was 10，000 mg/kg body weight. There were also no deaths or severe toxicity associated with SVP in subacute studies. However, SVP treatment had a decreasing effect on body weight in mice of both sexes (2500, 5000, and 10000 mg/kg). At doses (5000 and 10,000 mg/kg), SVP had a reduced effect on food intake in both male and female mice. In addition, there were significant effects on organ coefficients of the liver, lung, and kidney. Hematological analysis showed significantly lower LYM (%) values in mice of both sexes, with significantly lower MCH (pg) values obtained in males (5000 mg/kg and 10000 mg/kg) and higher GRAN (%) values in females. In addition, the RDW-SD (fL) values were significantly lower in the male mice given the highest dose. Biochemical tests showed that there were no significant changes in ALT, AST, TP, and Cr levels after SVP treatment. In histopathological analysis, mild liver toxicity was observed in both female mice treated with 10,000 mg/kg SVP. CONCLUSION: The extract of SVP showed a predominance of polysaccharide compounds, with non-toxic action in vivo. Our approach revealed SVP on the chemical composition and suggests a high margin of safety in the popular use of medicinal fungi. In conclusion, our results suggest that SVP is safe, and can be used as health care products and food.

Acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation of dihydro-p-coumaric acid isolated from leaves of Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. A. Gray in BALB/c mice.

In present study, the acute and sub-acute toxicities of Dihydro-p-coumaric acid isolated from the leaves of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray was studied for safety issues in mammals. For acute toxicity tests, isolated compound was administered orally in both male and female BALB/c mice at the doses of 200, 800, and 1,600 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. In sub-acute toxicity study 50 and 500 mg/kg bw of the compound was orally administered for 14 days. Toxicity induced behavioural changes, haematological parameters, biochemical markers and histopathological sections were studied after Dihydro-p-coumaric acid administration. The vital organs like heart, kidney, uterus and testis revealed no adverse effects at doses of upto 1,600 mg/kg bw and 500 mg/kg bw. Slight hepatotoxicity was however demonstrated by ALT and AST assay but histopathological section did not concur as much. The study demonstrated insignificant difference in the percentage of feed intake, water intake, weight gain, haematological parameters and histopathological changes, with no toxicity signs and mortality. Dihydro-p-coumaric acid can be regarded as safe in both acute and sub-acute toxicity assay in both sexes. This indicates Dihydro-p-coumaric acid as a viable alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Investigating the acute and sub-acute toxicity of medicinal Cuscuta chinensis Lam plant.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Convolvulaceae) had received growing attention as a traditional medicinal herb widely used for treating female impotence, abortion, male reproductive system disease and cardiovascular diseases, respectively. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study investigated the acute and sub-acute toxicities of C. chinensis water extract (CLW) in the ICR mice model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various doses of CLW (1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg) were administered consecutively for 14 days to evaluate the acute toxicity level with examine mortality, general behavior, body weight, food and water intake of the mice. At the end of treatmet, macroscopic observation of the skin and major internal organs in the abdominal part and organ coefficients were taken. The same doses were administered daily for 28 days to determine the sub-acute toxicity level with examine mortality, general behavior, body weight, food and water intake of the mice. At the end of treatmet, macroscopical examination of organs, tissues, cavities, organ coefficients, pathology, hematological and biochemical parameters were carried out. RESULTS: The acute toxicity test results revealed an LD 50 of over 5000 mg/kg for CLW. Similarly, no CLW-related mortality and severe toxicities were experienced in the sub-acute study. However, the treatment of CLW had a reducing effect on body weight of both male and female mice, and feed intake in female mice at the all tested doses (1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg). Moreover, significant effects in organ coefficients of brain, liver, lung, testis and thymus became apparent due to CLW mainly at the 2500 and 5000 mg/kg. The hematological analysis result showed a significant decrease in platelets, lymphocytes, and hematocrit. In contrast, a significant increase in the neutrophils was observed in the CLW treated groups (2500 and 5000 mg/kg). Biochemical test results showed a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels while decreasing albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels after treatment of CLW mostly at the doses of 2500 and 5000 mg/kg. Mild liver toxicity in both sexes treated with 5000 mg/kg of CLW was recorded in the histopathological analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggested that CLW is safe at its dose lower than 1250 mg/kg, although liver toxicity from daily use may be a matter of concern.