Sub chronic toxicity potential of the alcoholic extract of Biophytum reinwardtii whole plant

Abstract

Biophytum reinwardtii Edgew is an important and highly valued sensitive medicinal small herb and whole plant is ethnobotanically used in the treatment of insomnia, convulsion, inflammation, lithiasis, fevers and gonorrhea. The present study was carried out to evaluate acute and sub-chronic toxicity of alcoholic extract of Biophytum reinwardtii Edgew (B. reinwardtii) whole herb extract in albino mice and rats. The median acute toxicity value ( LD₅₀ ) of the extract of B. reinwardtii was determined to be 588.88 mg/kg b.w. (i.p.) in mice. In sub-chronic toxicity studies 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg b.w. of the alcoholic extracts of B. reinwardtii (AEBR) whole plant were administered orally to the test groups while distilled water was given to the control group. The parameters measured include food and fluid intake, body weight, absolute and relative weight of various organs, haematological parameters [total white blood cell (WBC) and packed cell volume (PCV)], and tests for liver function: Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Rats treated with AEBR in the therapeutic dose level had no progressive increase in body weight or fluid intake. There were no significant changes in both the absolute and relative organ weights between the control and the test groups after 30 days. The liver enzymes and haematological parameters were statistically equal in all the groups. The results of the present study therefore indicated that B. reinwardtii whole herb is safe in adult male albino mice demonstrating no noticeable toxicity.

Keywords: Biophytum reinwardtii, sub-chronic toxicity, liver function, packed cell volume, absolute weight, relative weight.