Studies on the toxicity of an aqueous extract of the leaves of <i>Abrus precatorius</i> in rats

Abstract

The toxic effects of an aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius were studied in 20 male white rats over a period of 18 days. The rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Those in Group A served as controls while the rats in Groups B, C and D were dosed per os with 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis and specimens of the liver, kidney and testes were taken for histopathological studies. The study showed that the extract of A. precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histologically, testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of lining cells of the epithelium as well as reduction in sperm cells with presence of scattered Sertoli cells were noted. The study thus showed that aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose.

The Paradox of Human Equivalent Dose Formula: A Canonical Case Study of Abrus Precatorius Aqueous Leaf Extract in Monogastric Animals

“…Human to hamster, rat, guinea-pig, rabbit, monkey, cat, baboon, ferret, Table 3. At dose range between 400 and 1600 mg/kg body weight reported by Adedapo et al (3), there was decreased RBC, PCV and Hb which were increased in mice (40,44). White blood cells and lymphocytes were decreased in rat (3) ( Table 4).…”

“…White blood cells and lymphocytes were decreased in rat (3) ( Table 4). Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio were reported to have increased in rats and mice (3,46). Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin were reported to have increased in rat (3) but decreased in mice (46).…”

“…But at higher dose levels (400-1600 mg/kg), it caused haemolysis with resultant hyperbilirubinaemia (3). However, at both lower doses (25-200 mg/kg) and higher doses (400-1600 mg/kg) the plant leaf extract caused increase in biochemical parameters with resultant deleterious effect on kidney, heart, intestine, lung, spleen and liver.…”

“…The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. It also caused testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of epithelial lining and reduction in sperm cells at dose range between 400 and 1600 mg/kg body weight (3). The foliage of Abrus precatorius contains abrin, which is among the most potent toxins.…”

Development and validation of HPTLC-densitometric method for estimation of trigonelline in leaves ofAbrus precatoriusL. and its formulation

“…[1][2][3]. Pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory [4], antimicrobial [5], neuromuscular [6], and toxicity studies [7] are reported on leaves. It is also a major ingredient of many marketed polyhedral digestive mixtures such as Chatak ® . Leaves are foremost source of an alkaloid trigonelline [8] having diverse pharmacological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, antiseptic, antimigraine, antitumor, mutagenic, and osmoregulatory [9].…”