Akindele Abidemi J, Unachukwu Emeka G, Osiagwu Daniel D
Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology (PTT), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba Campus, P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology (PTT), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba Campus, P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Nov 4;174:582-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.044. Epub 2015 Mar 27.
Ipomoea asarifolia (Convolvulacae), commonly known as "morning glory" is found across West Africa. Preparations of the plant are used traditionally for the treatment of diverse ailments including diabetes, neuralgia, arthritic pain and stomach ache. This study was designed to assess the safety profile of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of I. asarifolia through a 90-day subchronic toxicity study in rats.
I. asarifolia was administered p.o. at doses of 40, 200 and 1000mg/kg to separate groups of rats for 90 days. Distilled water was given p.o. to rats in the control group. Some set of rats in each group were left for additional 30 days without administration of the extract for reversibility study. Animals were weighed weekly and relevant parameters were assayed at the end of the main and reversibility study periods.
There was no significant change (p>0.05) in the body weight of rats, and food and water intake in I. asarifolia treated groups compared with control. I. asarifolia (40-1000 mg/kg) significantly but reversibly reduced (p<0.05, 0.001) sperm motility and count. The extract did not generally cause significant change (p>0.05) in the weight of vital organs and haematological parameters except in the case of reversible reduction in the level of haemoglobin and red blood cell count (p<0.01; 40 mg/kg). The level of biochemical parameters and electrolytes were not significantly changed (p>0.05) except for the reversible reduction in the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST; p<0.0001; 200 and 1000 mg/kg) and increase in the level of Na(+) (p<0.01; 200 mg/kg). The level of kidney reduced glutathione (GSH) was reversibly increased (p<0.01; 1000 mg/kg) while the level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic in vivo antioxidants was generally comparable and not significantly different (p>0.05) from control in respect of all other vital organs. Histological presentations were generally normal in respect of the liver, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, pancreas, spleen and testes.
The findings in this study suggest that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of I. asarifolia is relatively safe administered orally for an extended period with potential renal in vivo antioxidant activities. However, the extract may cause reversible male sterility, anaemia and hypernatraemia.
圆叶茑萝（旋花科），俗称“牵牛花”，在西非各地均有发现。该植物的制剂传统上用于治疗多种疾病，包括糖尿病、神经痛、关节疼痛和胃痛。本研究旨在通过对大鼠进行为期90天的亚慢性毒性研究，评估圆叶茑萝水乙醇叶提取物的安全性。
将圆叶茑萝分别以40、200和1000mg/kg的剂量口服给予不同组的大鼠，持续90天。对照组大鼠口服蒸馏水。每组中的一些大鼠在不给予提取物的情况下再留30天进行可逆性研究。每周称重大鼠体重，并在主要研究期和可逆性研究期结束时测定相关参数。
与对照组相比，圆叶茑萝处理组大鼠的体重、食物和水摄入量没有显著变化（p>0.05）。圆叶茑萝（40 - 1000mg/kg）显著但可逆地降低了（p<0.05，0.001）精子活力和数量。除了血红蛋白水平和红细胞计数可逆性降低（p<0.01；40mg/kg）外，提取物一般不会导致重要器官重量和血液学参数发生显著变化（p>0.05）。除了天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）水平可逆性降低（p<0.0001；200和1000mg/kg）以及Na(+)水平升高（p<0.01；200mg/kg）外，生化参数和电解质水平没有显著变化（p>0.05）。肾脏还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）水平可逆性升高（p<0.01；1000mg/kg），而体内酶促和非酶促抗氧化剂水平在所有其他重要器官方面总体上与对照组相当，且无显著差异（p>0.05）。肝脏、肾脏、大脑、心脏、肺、胰腺、脾脏和睾丸的组织学表现总体正常。
本研究结果表明，圆叶茑萝水乙醇叶提取物长期口服相对安全，具有潜在的肾脏体内抗氧化活性。然而，该提取物可能会导致可逆性男性不育、贫血和高钠血症。
