Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Evaluation of the Crude Methanolic Extract of Justicia schimperiana Leaf in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluates the acute and sub-acute toxicity of 80% methanolic extracts of the leaves of Justicia schimperiana in Wistar albino rat models.

Methods

Dried powdered leaves of Justicia schimperiana were macerated in 80% methanol. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 423 for acute and 407 for sub-acute toxicity testing. A single dose of 5000 mg/kg extract was orally administered to three female rats for the acute toxicity study. The plant extract was administered orally for 28 days in daily dosages of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for the sub-acute study. Animals in a control group were given distilled water. A total of 40 rats (5 rats/group/sex) were used for the sub-acute toxicity testing. Daily food intake and weekly body weight measurements were done. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 28-day treatment period for hematological, biochemical, and histopathological tests. One-way analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed for the analysis.

Results

The single-dose oral administration of the plant resulted in no deaths or serious morbidity. The median lethal dose was >5000 mg/kg. The 28-day oral treatment of the plant extract had no significant effect on general behavior, food intake, organ weight, biochemical parameters, or the majority of the hematological markers, with the exception of the decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit in the 1000 mg/kg extract-treated groups compared to the controls. Both sexes experienced significant weight increases at all dosage levels. With the exception of minor alterations in a few of the organs, no significant histological change was identified.

Conclusion

It is concluded that the single-dose and repeated-dose 28-day oral administration of the methanolic leaf extract of Justicia schimperiana is relatively safe.

Keywords:

• acute toxicity
• sub-acute toxicity
• Justicia schimperiana
• rats
• crude extract

Abbreviations

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, Alkaline phosphatase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; Cl⁻, Chlorine; EPHI, Ethiopia Public Health Institute; mg, milligram; mg/kg, milligram/kilogram; HCT; hematocrit; HGB, hemoglobin; HDL, High-density lipoprotein; H&E, Hematoxylin and eosin; JSLM80, 80% methanolic extract of Justicia schimperiana leaf, K⁺, Potassium; LD₅₀-Lethal dose 50%; LDL, Low-density lipoprotein; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; MCV, mean cell volume; Na⁺, Sodium; OECD/OCDE, organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; RBC, red blood cells; SEM, Standard error of means; WBC, white blood cells.

Data Sharing Statement

All the data sets used in this article can be accessed from the corresponding author on a reasonable request.

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful for the financial support provided by the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Debre Tabor University. The authors also would like to thank the staff of the Traditional and Modern Medicine Research Directorate at EPHI and Departments of Anatomy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, and Pathology at AAU for their assistance during the study.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.