Hepatotoxicity of botanicals

Stickel, Felix; Egerer, Gerlinde; Seitz, Helmut K.

doi:10.1017/s1368980000000161

Cited by 133 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 89 publications

(92 reference statements)

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“…This finding has not been described before for chronic intoxication with Kh fruit. It has been described that several plants as Larrea tridentata (Stickel et al, 2000), and Ruta graveolens (Serrano-Gallardo et al, 2013) can cause a hepatotoxic effect similar to the necrotic damage observed in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Liver damage in an experimental model of peripheral neuropathy induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (Buckthorn) fruit: Histopathological evidence

García-Garza¹,

Salazar-Leal²,

Romero-DÃaz³

et al. 2016

J. Med. Plants Res.

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Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) is a poisonous shrub that causes acute or chronic intoxication in animals and humans. In chronic intoxication, the main sign is the presence of paralysis. Previously we reported a model of intoxication with Kh fruit that reproduces paralysis and clinical phases in humans when they do not die; however, there are no studies that describe damage to liver in this model. The objective was to evaluate histopathological alterations in liver during chronic intoxication. Wistar rats (n=25) were divided into five groups (n= 5). Four groups were intoxicated with Kh and one received only water as a control group. Animals were euthanized at different times during paralysis evolution. Samples of liver were obtained, and processed either for light or electron microscopy evaluation. Histological, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed, including a morphometric analysis. Results demonstrated necrotic areas, vascular congestion and vacuoles in the cytoplasm of hepatic cells that increased during intoxication and decreased in the recovery stage. These findings were confirmed at electron microscopy level. Morphometric analysis demonstrated statistically significant difference in occurrence of necrotic cells and PCNA positive cells between control and intoxicated groups. This was not observed with TUNEL staining. These findings demonstrate that during Kh intoxication there is a severe damage in liver that is reversible. Thus, it could be suggested that Kh causes a systemic intoxication not only damage to peripheral nervous system.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Liver damage in an experimental model of peripheral neuropathy induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (Buckthorn) fruit: Histopathological evidence

García-Garza¹,

Salazar-Leal²,

Romero-DÃaz³

et al. 2016

J. Med. Plants Res.

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“…However, there is low interest in the toxic manifestations brought about by natural products due to the unfounded belief that drugs obtained from nature are devoid of any toxic ramifications. 2 Moringa oleifera is a plant that originates in Asia but is nowadays cultivated extensively in various parts of the world. Thus, the plant goes by many names; benzolive tree, morunga, drumstick tree, nebeday among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute toxicity of the aqueous-methanolic Moringa oleifera (Lam) leaf extract on female Wistar albino rats

Okumu

Mbaria

Kanja

et al. 2016

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

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Background: Herbal preparations are widely assumed to be safe on oral administration and therefore the documentation of the toxic potential of some herbal concoctions used as medicine and nutrients is limited. Moringa oleifera (MO) is a plant that is gaining tremendous popularity in rural communities in Kenya as a means of offsetting nutritional and medicinal needs. However, very little is known about the safety of the plant on oral administration. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess the biochemical and histological changes in the liver following the administration of an aqueous-methanolic (AQ-ME) MO leaf extract in female Wistar albino rats. Methods: Acute oral toxicity study on the AQ-ME MO leaf extract was conducted by the use of the limit test dose of the up and down procedure (OECD guideline number 425) with slight modifications. Briefly, ten (10) healthy, nulliparous, non-pregnant female Wistar strain albino rats aged 8-12 weeks and weighing 180±20 grams were used for the study. These animals were randomly selected into two groups; control and treatment group each having five (5) animals. They were then labelled to enable identification and control group animals were orally administered with physiological buffer saline once daily over a 48-hour period. The five (5) rats in the treatment group were dosed orally one at a time and once daily with a 2000 mg/kg dose of the AQ-ME MO leaf extract to determine the median lethal dose over a 48 hour period. Blood was then collected and used to prepare serum for biochemical analysis of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) which are important biomarkers of liver dysfunction. Biochemical assays of these enzymes were performed using the method of the International Federation of Clinical Chemists (IFCC). Death was used as an endpoint, livers harvested and used to prepare transverse sections for histopathological examination. These sections were stained using the haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) method and observed for pathological changes using an optical microscope. Results: A 2000 mg/kg oral dose of AQ-ME MO leaf extract caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in the mean levels of AST but a non-significant (p>0.05) increase in the mean levels of total bilirubin in the treatment group relative to the control group. On the other hand, the extract caused a nonsignificant (p>0.05) decrease in the mean levels of ALT in the treatment group relative to the control. The post mortem analysis of the hepatic index (liver to body weight ratio) revealed that there was a non-significant increase (p>0.05) in the hepatic index of the treatment group relative to the control. However, the transverse liver sections of treatment group animals showed mild distortions in the architecture of liver cells. Conclusions: Based on these results, the LD 50 of the AQ-ME MO leaf extract was found to be >2000 mg/kg in female wistar albino rats.

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“…Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) extracts cause DILI, probably mediated by furano neoclerodane diterpenoids [9] . Chaparral is a desert shrub traditionally used by Native Americans for treatment of several ailments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug-induced liver injury due to “natural products” used for weight loss: A case report

Tarantino

Pezzullo

Minno

et al. 2009

WJG

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Ta k i n g h e r b a l -e x t r a c t s t o l o s e w e i g h t i s a n underestimated health hazard. Often, these products contain active agents that can cause acute liver damage. In this case report, a 22-year-old female patient, who presented with a feature of cholestatic syndrome, was so sure that the "natural products" were not dangerous that she did not inform her physicians that she had taken them, making their task that much more challenging. Clinical presentation m i m i c k e d a c u t e c h o l e c y s t i t i s a n d t h e p a t i e n t underwent a cholecystectomy. Surgery was without any consequences and complications, although it did not completely cure the illness. She later admitted to having taken herbal remedies and this led to the correct diagnosis of phytotherapy-related hepatotoxicity and a successful therapeutic approach. The true incidence of phytotherapy-related hepatotoxicity and its pathogenic mechanisms are largely unknown. It is important to increase the awareness of both clinicians and patients about the potential dangers of herbal remedies.

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Hepatotoxicity of botanicals

Cited by 133 publications

References 89 publications

Liver damage in an experimental model of peripheral neuropathy induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (Buckthorn) fruit: Histopathological evidence

Liver damage in an experimental model of peripheral neuropathy induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (Buckthorn) fruit: Histopathological evidence

Acute toxicity of the aqueous-methanolic Moringa oleifera (Lam) leaf extract on female Wistar albino rats

Drug-induced liver injury due to “natural products” used for weight loss: A case report

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