Toxicity Studies of Trema orientalis in Rats with Respect to Certain Haematological and Biochemical Parameters

Abstract

An experimental study was carried out to assess the toxicological aspects of methanolic extract of leaves and stems of Trema orientalis (METO) in rats. Repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study of METO was performed in male Wistar albino rats as per the OECD guidelines 407. In total, 24 rats were assigned in four groups of six in each group.  Group I served as control, while Group II, III and IV rats were orally gavaged with METO daily at dose levels of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg respectively for 28 days. The experimental rats were apparently healthy throughout the experimental period with respect to feed intake and body weight gain. Haematological parameters such as total erythrocytes count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were assessed from blood on day 14 and day 28 in the repeated dose oral toxicity study. Also, certain biochemical parameters like AST, ALT, ALP, BUN and creatinine from serum were estimated. TLC was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in group IV of METO treated rats. The significant (p < 0.05) increase in creatinine values of group IV on 28th day, associated with occurrence of various phytochemicals. Other haematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant changes in METO treated groups. The study concluded that the doses of T. orientalis resulted in pulmonary, hepatic and renal damage in experimental rats and might be toxic to the domestic animals also, which need to be investigated in future.