Chronic toxicological study of the stem bark aqueous extract from Libidibia ferrea Mart. ex Tul.

• Main Authors: Carlos Fernando Brasileiro de Vasconcelos, Hélida Maria de Lima Maranhão, João Henrique da Costa Silva, Cristiano Ribeiro de Lima, Jacinto da Costa Silva Neto, Sérgio Faloni de Andrade, Fabiano Ferreira, Almir Gonçalves Wanderley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ALIES - Associação Lusófona para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação e do Ensino das Ciências da Saúde 2020-12-01
• Series: Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research (BBR)
• Subjects: libidibia ferrea martius ext tul.; chronic toxicity; biochemical parameters; hematological parameters
• Online Access: http://www.alies.pt/BBR%20Editions/Vol-17-2-2020/bbr.17.2.238.pdf

Libidibia ferrea Martius Ext Tul. has been used in popular medicine to treat a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, gastric ulcer, and cancer; however, no preclinical safety study of the stem bark aqueous extract has been identified. We studied the chronic toxicity of an aqueous extract of L. ferrea stem bark in mice with oral doses of 300 and 1500 mg/ kg/day for 12 weeks. As indicators of toxicity, body weight, as well as food and water intake, were evaluated. Analysis of biochemical and haematological parameters and histopathologic studies were also conducted. The groups treated with L. ferrea presented significant loss in body weight gain and an irregular pattern of consumption of water and feed. There was also a marked increase in the white blood cell count and an important reduction in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, amylase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Histopathological analysis revealed the presence of inflammation in the small intestine and kidneys. The data set indicates that repeated administration of the aqueous extract of Libidibia ferrea stem bark is not completely safe in Swiss mice as evidenced by impairment of mice growth, development of nephro-enterotoxicity, which consequently leads to alteration of some biochemical, and hematological parameters.