Toxicological studies on hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L.

Abstract

The hydroalcohol extract (HAE) of Calendula officinalis L. was evaluated for its acute toxicity by the oral route in rats and mice and for the subacute effect on hematological, biochemical and morphologic parameters in rats. In the acute toxicity test, HAE failed to cause death in the animals after administration of oral doses up to 5.0 g/kg. Oral treatment with HAE at 0.025, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg did not induce hematological alterations when compared with the control group. In the biochemical parameters, there was an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and in alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Morphological examination of the brain, kidney and heart did not show any alteration. However, inflammatory sites were found in the lung and liver, which were associated, respectively, with oral gavage and a possible hepatotoxic effect. HAE was non-toxic in rats, although there was evidence of renal and liver overload.

Acute and subacute toxicity of the Carapa guianensis Aublet (Meliaceae) seed oil

“…In the last years, our research group has investigated the Carapa guianensis seed oil toxic effect in order to ensure its safe use. Indeed, two recent studies performed in female rats treated per os with Carapa guianensis seed oil showed that it did not interfere on the fertility (Costa- Silva et al, 2006) and did not induce any toxic effect on pregnancy (Costa- Silva et al, 2007). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the toxicity of the Carapa guianensis seed oil in Wistar rats.…”

Acute and chronic toxicity of a lyophilised aqueous extract of Tanacetum vulgare leaves in rodents

“…The animals were observed for general behavioral changes, signs of toxicity and mortality continuously for 1 h after treatment, then intermittently for 4 h, and thereafter over a period of 24 h (Twaij et al, 1983). The mice were further observed for up to 14 days following treatment (Silva et al, 2007) for behavioral changes and signs of toxicity and/or death, and the latency of death. The LD 50 values were determined according to the method of Litchfield and Wilcoxon (1949).…”

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract from the stem bark of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae) in rodents

“…The parameters included: red blood cell (RBC) count, leukocyte (WBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HCt), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet count, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, basophil and eosinophil counts (Silva et al, 2007;Lahlou et al, 2008).…”