Acute and subchronic evaluation of Indigofera arrecta: absence of both toxicity and modulation of selected cytochrome P450 isozymes in ddY mice

Abstract

Indigofera arrecta, an anti diabetic plant was investigated in ddY mice to determine its acute and subchronic effects, and whether it modulated hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes and glutathione (GSH). No mortality was observed in the acute (up to 10 g I. arrecta/kg body wt, p.o.) and subchronic (2 g I. arrecta/kg body wt, p.o. daily for 30 days) studies. The extract did not alter haematological indices, serum and tissue lipids and glutathione but lowered serum bile acids. The latter phenomenon is under further investigation. Neither the duration of pentobarbital (PB) and zoxazolamine (ZA) effects in vivo, nor CYP‐dependent 7‐ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD), 7‐pentoxyresorufin‐O‐depentylase (PROD) and p‐nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) activities in vitro were altered by I. arrecta. The extract was thus devoid of overt acute and subchronic toxic effects, and did not affect CYPs and GSH whose modulation may cause interactions of components in a multiple drug therapy. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessment of acute and subchronic oral toxicity of ethanolic extract of Pothomorphe umbellata L. Miq (Pariparoba)

“…crude ethanolic extract is not toxic when administered by the oral route to experimental animals. Similar results were described by Bacchi et al (1995), in a study with hydroalcoholic extracts of Styrax camporum and Caesalpinia ferrea, and Nyarko et al (1999), with the aqueous extract of Indigofera arrecta. Our results were comparable with these ones, due to the likeness in the classification of the phenolic compounds (in agreement with the basic skeleton -C6 -radical) (Carvalho et al, 1999) present in the extracts, to the form and to the administration period.…”

Antidiabetic and ameliorative potential of Ficus bengalensis bark extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

“…The serum was assayed for electrolytes including sodium, potassium and calcium by using flame photometry. Serum marker enzymes, glycogen synthase (17), glucokinase (18), lactate dehydrogenase (19), succinate dehygrogenase (20) and malate dehydrogenase (21) and Liver microsomal monooxygenase enzymes, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), 7-pentoresorufin-O-depentylase (PROD) and pnitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) (22) were estimated in both control and FB treated rats. Liver and kidney tissue lipid peroxidation was measured by measuring the levels of MDA (23) and hydroperoxides (24).…”

Subchronic toxicity studies of the antidiabetic herbal preparation ADD-199 in the rat: absence of organ toxicity and modulation of cytochrome P450

“…In vivo drug interaction was assessed by the pentobarbitalinduced sleeping time and the zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time as described previously (Nyarko et al, 1999). Briefly, to two groups of controls (Group A) were administered zoxazolamine (60 mg/kg, i.p.…”

“…The prepared microsomes were stored in aliquots of 1.0 ml at −40 • C. The microsomal protein contents of hepatic microsomes were determined spectrophotometrically (Shimadzu microflow Model CL-720, Japan) by the method of Bradford (1976). The activities of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), pentoresorufin-Odeethylase (PROD) and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) were determined as previously described (Nyarko et al, 1999).…”

“…These allopathic drugs are too expensive and thus beyond the reach of DM patients in developing countries. Some patients have, therefore, resorted to the use of herbal preparations made from Indigofera arrecta and Bridelia ferruginea, which have been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels in man and rats (Iwu, 1980;Addy and Nyarko, 1988) without signs of overt toxicity in laboratory studies (Nyarko et al, 1999). is an herbal medicine that is prepared from Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.)…”