Gemeda Hirut Basha, Debella Asfaw, Endale Milkyas, Abebe Abiy, Mathewos Meharu, Habtu Wossene, Chalchisa Dinkenesh, Getachew Betelhem, Hassen Menal, Mamo Hassen
Traditional and Modern Medicine Research and Development Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Clinical Chemistry laboratory Unit, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2025 Feb 25;20(2):e0319464. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319464. eCollection 2025.
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel (Family: Rosaceae) and Rumex abyssinicus Jacq (Family: Polygonaceae) are valuable medicinal plants traditionally used in Ethiopia to treat various diseases. Recent studies have also demonstrated that solvent extracts of these plants exhibit molluscicidal activities under laboratory conditions, highlighting their potential for snail control. However, limited information is available regarding their safety profiles.
This study aimed to evaluate acute, and sub-acute toxicity of 70% ethanol extracts of H. abyssinica and R. abyssinicus flowers in Swiss albino mice, following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines 423 and 407.
In the acute toxicity study, both extracts were administered orally to experimental groups at varying concentrations (mg/kg bodyweight): 5, 50, 300, and 2000. For the sub-acute toxicity study, both extracts were given to the experimental groups at doses (mg/kg) of 125, 250, and 500 daily for 28 days. Blood samples were collected from each mouse and analyzed for hematological and biochemical parameters. Additionally, the heart, liver, and kidneys were excised, stained, and examined for potential histopathological effects.
The acute toxicity study revealed no noticeable changes in behavior at the highest oral dosage of 2000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, no statistically significant changes were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters compared to the control group. Similarly, no abnormal histological findings were noted in the examined organs in comparison to the control group.
These findings indicate that flower extracts of both plants did not show significant toxicity to laboratory mammals at an oral dosage of 2000 mg/kg.
东非铁力木（Bruce）J.F. Gmel（蔷薇科）和阿比西尼亚酸模Jacq（蓼科）是埃塞俄比亚传统上用于治疗各种疾病的珍贵药用植物。最近的研究还表明，这些植物的溶剂提取物在实验室条件下具有杀螺活性，突出了它们在控制蜗牛方面的潜力。然而，关于它们的安全性概况的信息有限。
本研究旨在按照经济合作与发展组织指南423和407，评估东非铁力木和阿比西尼亚酸模花的70%乙醇提取物对瑞士白化小鼠的急性和亚急性毒性。
在急性毒性研究中，将两种提取物以不同浓度（毫克/千克体重）口服给予实验组：5、50、300和2000。在亚急性毒性研究中，将两种提取物以剂量（毫克/千克）125、250和500每日给予实验组，持续28天。从每只小鼠采集血样并分析血液学和生化参数。此外，切除心脏、肝脏和肾脏，染色并检查潜在的组织病理学影响。
急性毒性研究显示，在最高口服剂量2000毫克/千克时行为没有明显变化。在亚急性毒性研究中，与对照组相比，血液学和生化参数没有观察到统计学上的显著变化。同样，与对照组相比，在所检查的器官中没有发现异常的组织学发现。
这些发现表明，两种植物的花提取物在口服剂量2000毫克/千克时对实验室哺乳动物没有显示出明显毒性。
