Acute Toxicity of Onion Skin Quercetin and its Effect on Liver and Kidney of Mice

Quercetin is the most abundant flavonoid molecules, widely distributed in the plant kingdom and has a wide range of uses. The aim of the study was to determine the LD50 of onion skin quercetin (OSQ) and its effect on the liver and kidney of mice. The study consists of 2 phases. In phase 1, nine mice BALB/c were divided into three groups of three mice each. The mice in each group received OSQ at 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 1000mg/kg respectively and were monitored for 24 hours for any sign of toxicity or mortality. In phase 2, three mice were divided into three groups of one mouse each. Each mouse received OSQ at 1600mg/kg, 2900mg/kg and 5000mg/kg. The mice were observed for 24 hours for any sign of toxicity or mortality. A significant increase in serum albumin, total protein and AST levels was observed in mice that receive 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 1000mg/kg OSQ. A significant decrease in serum ALP, ALT, cholesterol, creatinine, urea and electrolyte was noticed in mice that receive OSQ at 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 1000mg/kg when compared with the control. The liver of mice that receive 1600mg/kg and 2900mg/kg OSQ showed hemorrhage and enlarged sinusoids along with distortion of renal tubule and aggregation of lymphocytes within kidney. In conclusion, the LD50 of OSQ is 3,807mg/kg in mice. OSQ above 1000mg/kg led to distortion of hepatocytes and renal tubule with increase in serum AST, ALT and creatinine suggesting that OSQ could be toxic at 1000mg/kg and above.