In Vivo Toxicity and the Antioxidant Activity of the Hot Water Extract of Glechoma Hederacea

Abstract

Background Glechoma hederacea belongs to the Labiatae family and has many biological effects. Our previously in vitro studies, hot water extract of G. hederacea (HWG) possessed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Also, the Ames test indicated that HWG had no mutagenicity. However, the in vivo toxicity and antioxidant capacity have not been clearly demonstrated. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties and the safety level of HWG by using animal models. Methods The genotoxicity were performed by micronucleus assays in mice. Acute oral toxicity and 28-day repeated feeding toxicity tests were performed via the oral gavage method for Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Furthermore, the effect of HWG on the oxidation–antioxidation equilibrium of male rats was also evaluated. Results HWG did not induce an increase in micronucleus ratios in vivo, no acute lethal effect at a maximum tested dose of 5.0 g HWG /kg bw was observed in rats. The 28-day oral toxicity study revealed the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of HWG in rats was 1.0 g/kg bw. The HWG-treatment significantly elevated the vitamin C level and the SOD activity in heart, and increased the vitamin E concentrations in brain. The HWG-treatment maintained the balance of the glutathione level and the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Besides, the level of lipid peroxidation and plasma of total antioxidant status (TAS) showed that HWG-treated rats were not significantly changed compared with the control group. Conclusions HWG had no genotoxicity, and did not induce acute or subacute toxicity in SD rat. The level of no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of HWG rats was 1.0 g/kg bw for subacute toxicity study. HWG possessed antioxidant potential and reduced oxidative stress by improving the antioxidant system in animal.