Abstract:
Medicinal plants are of great concern as a re-emerging health aid globally. The in vivo acute
antihyperglycaemic effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cocciniagrandis(Ivy gourd,Cucurbitacae) has
been scientifically proven by our group but safety data of the aqueous leaf extract of C. grandis
were limited. Aim of this study was to investigate acute and subchronic toxicological effects of an
aqueous extract of C. grandis on biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters in
male Wistar rats. An aqueous extract of C. grandisrwas administered orally at graded doses (0.25-
2.00 g/kg) to Wistar rats (n=6 in each group) and the general behavior of the animals was observed
for three days in the acute toxicity test. Subchronic toxicity was evaluated by daily administration
of the extract at 0.75 g/kg (optimum effective antihyperglycaemic dose in diabetic rats) orally to
Wistar rats (n=6 in each group) for 28 days. Signs of toxicity, body weight, consumption of food
and water were monitored. The effects of the extract on biochemical (including lipid profile,
activities of liver enzymes) and haematological parameters (full blood count) were also assessed
on day 28. Further, histopathological effects were assessed in heart, lung, small intestine, liver,
kidney, spleen and pancreas. Results of test rats were compared with those of untreated Wistar
rats. All animals were physically active and no death was observed up to the dose of 2.00 g/kg in
the acute toxicity study. The extract neither produced significant changes in any of the parameters
(p < 0.05). No treatment related cellular changes were observed in the vital organs of C. grandis
treated rats on light microscopic examination. The aqueous extract of C. grandis is safe in healthy
rats up to a dose of 2.00 g/kg. Further the extract at a dose of 0.75 g/kg was toxicologically safe
and merit further investigations.
