Chronic Toxicity Studies of Plumeria Acuminata and Galega Purpurea in Experimental Animals

The use of medicinal plants and preparations derived from them as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods and herbal medicinal products has become more widely accepted in developing countries. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the adverse effects of these plants and their preparations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of the methanol extracts Plumeria acuminata (MEPA) and Galega purpurea (MEGP) by single the long-term oral administration in mice. The study of chronic toxicity was determined by oral feeding male mice daily with the MEPA and MEGP at the dose of 300, 600 and 1,200 mg/kg body weight continuously for 270 days. The results of chronic toxicity showed no abnormalities in the test groups as compared to the controls. Hematological and blood chemical values in treated groups were normal in comparison with the control group. Non-toxicity effect of MEPA and MEGP were present as no changes in body weight, internal organ weight, and general behaviors. Macroscopic or microscopic of internal organs or tissues in treated rats showed no changes. Therefore, the methanol extract of MEPA and MEGP given orally to male mice did not produce both acute and chronic toxicities. INTRODUCTION: The widespread use of natural and synthetic drugs has necessitated the development of rapid and cost effective toxicity tests to protect humans and other biota 1, . Generally, substances are absorbed from the blood stream and detoxified by the liver. After detoxification by liver they are generally excreted out of the body through kidney. Therefore it is very much essential to determine the effect of a new agent on liver and kidney functions and metabolism. Toxicological evaluation was performed in blood and serum samples following the administration of dose regimens of these agents that were previously shown to be pharmacologically active in animal models. Hepatorenal toxicity was evaluated by measuring enzyme activity or concentrations of: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, protein, total cholesterol, glucose, blood urea, nonprotein nitrogen and uric acid. Plumeria acuminata belonging to the family Apocynaceae is widely distributed throughout the Southern parts of India. In traditional medicinal system different parts of the plant have been mentioned to be useful in a variety of diseases. The bark has been reported to be useful in hard tumors, diarrhoea and gonorrhea. The leaves are reported to have antiinflammatory, rubefacient in rheumatism and have strong purgative effect.