Safety evaluation of orally-administered methanol extract of Muntingia calabura Linn. leaves: A sub-chronic toxicity study in Sprague Dawley rats

• Published in: Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Main Author: Md Nasir N.L.; Kamsani N.E.; Mohtarrudin N.; Md Tohid S.F.; Zakaria Z.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2020
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85091224002&doi=10.36721%2fPJPS.2020.33.5.REG.2009-2016.1&partnerID=40&md5=61e2c46d8028d258227c7afd662443fb

Muntingia calabura (M. calabura), locally known as “kerukup siam” or “buah ceri” belongs to the family Muntingiaceae and has been scientifically demonstrated to exert various pharmacological activities. The objectives of the current study are to evaluate the antioxidant activities and to determine the subchronic toxicity of 90 days orally-administered methanol extract of M. calabura (MEMC) in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6). Vehicle control received 8% tween 80 and treatment group received 50, 250 and 500mg/kg of MEMC orally administered daily for 90 days. Blood collection was carried out to obtain the hematological and biochemical profile of the rats. The organs harvested were subjected to histopathological analysis. For the antioxidant test, the extract was subjected to antioxidant study using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and superoxide anion-radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and phytochemical screening. Results obtained show that no adverse effects were observed during the experimental period. Hematological and biochemical analysis also showed no significant changes in this toxicity study. Besides, antioxidant analyses revealed that MEMC has higher DPPH- and SOD-radical scavenges activity as well as higher TPC value. In conclusion, M. calabura is safe for consumption and possesses beneficial antioxidant effect. © 2020 Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. All rights reserved.