Safety assessment and behavioral effects of Solanum guaraniticum leaf extract in rats

ABSTRACT Solanum guaraniticum is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat gastric and liver diseases. However, there is no documented evidence corroborating its safety. The present study evaluated the potential toxicity of S. guaraniticum leaf extract after acute administration in rats. Single doses of the extract (1.250, 2.500, and 5.000 mg/kg) were administered by gavage, and the rats were then monitored for 48 h and/or 14 days. Mortality, acute signs of toxicity, and general activity in the open field test were assessed as well as hematological and biochemical parameters, enzymatic activity (δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase and acetylcholinesterase), and oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation level, non-protein thiol content, tissue catalase activity, and serum ferrous reducing power). Phytochemical analysis was also performed by HPLC. The results showed that extract administration produced no deaths (LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg), and no significant adverse effects regarding food consumption, body weight gain, gross pathology, or other parameters. However, the open field tests showed a decrease in spontaneous activity (crossing and rearing) mainly at 48 h after treatment. The results suggest that S. guaraniticum extract is not acutely toxic, but causes alterations in central nervous system activity.

摘要：瓜拉尼茄（Solanum guaraniticum）是一种传统用于治疗胃病与肝病的药用植物，但目前尚无文献证据可佐证其安全性。本研究评估了大鼠单次给予该植物叶提取物后的急性潜在毒性。实验以灌胃方式给药，提取物剂量分别为1.250、2.500及5.000 mg/kg，随后对大鼠进行48小时及/或14天的观察监测。评估指标涵盖死亡率、急性毒性体征、旷场试验（open field test）中的一般活动水平，同时检测血液学与生化参数、酶活性（δ-氨基酮戊酸脱水酶（δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase）与乙酰胆碱酯酶（acetylcholinesterase））以及氧化应激参数（脂质过氧化水平、非蛋白巯基含量、组织过氧化氢酶活性与血清亚铁还原能力）。此外，通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）完成了植物化学分析。结果显示，给予提取物后未出现大鼠死亡案例，半数致死量（LD50）＞5000 mg/kg，且在食物摄入量、体质量增长、大体病理学观察及其他相关参数中均未发现显著不良反应。不过旷场试验结果表明，大鼠的自发性活动（穿越次数与直立次数）出现下降，该变化主要在给药后48小时时最为明显。本研究结果提示，瓜拉尼茄提取物无急性毒性，但可引起中枢神经系统活动的改变。