Acute, Sub-acute and Cell Toxicity of Allium elburzense Bulb Hydroalcoholic Extract

Abstract

<strong><span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont20">Background and objectives:</span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span></strong><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">Allium </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">elburzense</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> is an endemic plant in north of Iran with some nutritional and medicinal applications; however, there is no data on its safety profile. This study was aimed to investigate</span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">cytotoxicity,</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> acute and sub-acute toxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">A. </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">elburzense</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> bulb. </span></span><strong><span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont20">Methods:</span></span></strong><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"><strong> </strong>Total phenolic content of </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">the extract </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">was measured using </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">Folin-Ciocalteu</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">method</span></span><span class="s19"><span class="bumpedFont20">.</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> For</span></span><span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont20"> </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">cytotoxicity assay, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used. In acute toxicity study, single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg was administered in female and male Wistar rats and they were monitored for two weeks. In sub-acute test, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day of extract were orally administered for four weeks. </span></span><strong><span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont20">Results:</span></span></strong><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> Total phenolic content was estimated as </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">32.8 </span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">±</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> 2.5</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> mg gallic acid equivalent/g of the extract. The extract showed IC</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">50</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> value of 366.4 µg/mL (95% CI = 246.4-566.1) in HUVECs after 24 h exposure. In acute study, there was no sign of toxicity and no mortality; however, significant increase in relative spleen weight and ALP activity and mild inflammation in kidney tissue were observed. LD</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">50</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> ˃ 2000 mg/kg was estimated for </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">A. </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">elburzense</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> bulb</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> extract. In sub-acute assay, there were significant elevations in relative spleen weight, blood urea level, AST, ALT, ALP, total WBC, lymphocyte and neutrophil count and significant decrease in blood sugar and triglyceride levels at higher doses of the extract. </span></span><strong><span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont20">Conclusion:</span></span></strong><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">Allium </span></span><span class="s18"><span class="bumpedFont20">elburzense</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> bulb</span></span><span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20"> extract may be considered as safe at doses lower than 500 mg/kg in rats; however, assessment of liver and kidney functions is recommended during chronic uses.</span></span>