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Wang J, Wang L, Tan J, Chai R, Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhao S, Wang X, Bian Y, Liu J. Toxicity studies of condensed fuzheng extract in mice and rats. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24780. [PMID: 38318056 PMCID: PMC10838742 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Nutritional supplements have been used to improve immune function. Condensed fuzheng extract (CFE) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that is predominantly made from sheep placenta, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, and Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl. However, the toxicological profile of CFE has not been determined. In this study, we investigated the acute (14 days) and sub-chronic (90 days) oral toxicities of CFE in mice and rats and the phytochemical composition of CFE. Materials and methods For the assessment of acute toxicity, 80 ICR mice of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were treated with 4500, 2250 and 1125 mg/kg/d bw CFE daily (n = 10/group per sex) for 14 days; a separate group was used as control. To test the sub-chronic toxicity, male and female Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered 8150, 4075 or 2037 mg/kg bw of CFE for 90 days; a control group was included. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological markers were tested at the end of the experiment. The chemical composition of CFE was determined by UPLC-HRMS method. Results In both acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies, no mortalities, indications of abnormality, or treatment-related adverse effects were observed. The LD50 of CFE was higher than 4500 mg/kg. There were no significant changes in the hematological and biochemical data in the treatment group compared with the control group (p > 0.05). Histopathological analyses of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, thymus, testes (male rats) and ovaries (female rats) revealed no anatomical changes of each organ. Phytochemical analysis of CFE revealed the presence of flavonoids (highest abundance), phenols and alkaloids. In conclusion, our results showed that CFE is a safe and non-toxic formula. We also reported phytochemicals in CFE that may possess important pharmacological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- JiDa Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Li Wang
- Pharmaceutical Department, Tianjin Second People’s Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Pharmaceutical Department, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Junzhen Tan
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - RunDong Chai
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - ShuWu Zhao
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - XiangLing Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - YuHong Bian
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - JianWei Liu
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Abduh MS, Saghir SAM, Al Hroob AM, Bin-Ammar A, Al-Tarawni AH, Murugaiyah V, Mahmoud AM. Averrhoa carambola leaves prevent dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in a rat model of poloxamer-407-induced acute hyperlipidemia. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1134812. [PMID: 36814487 PMCID: PMC9939629 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1134812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The star fruit [Averrhoa carambola L (Oxalidaceae)] is traditionally used in the treatment of many ailments in many countries. It possesses several pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it contains the neurotoxic caramboxin and its high content of oxalic acid limits its consumption by individuals with compromised kidney function. This study assessed the anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of different fractions of the methanolic extract of A. carambola leaves (MEACL). Methods: The antioxidant activity was investigated using FRAP, and ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging assays and the inhibitory activity toward pancreatic lipase (PL) and HMG-CoA reductase was assayed in vitro. Acute hyperlipidemia was induced by poloxamer-407 (P-407) in rats and different fractions of MEACL (n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, ethyl acetate (EA), water, and chloroform) were orally administered. Cholesterol and triglycerides were determined at 0, 12, 24, and 48 h and LDL-C, vLDL-C, HDL-C, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidants were assayed after 48 h. The expression of ABCA1, ABCG5, ABCG8, LDL-R, SREBP-1, and SREBP-2 and the activity of HMG-CoA reductase were assayed in the liver of P-407-administered rats treated with the EA fraction. Results: The in vitro data revealed potent radical-scavenging activities of MEACL fractions with the most potent effect showed by the EA fraction that also suppressed the activities of HMG-CoA reductase and PL. In P-407-induced hyperlipidemic rats, all fractions prevented dyslipidemia as shown by the decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, vLDL-C and atherogenic index. MEACL and its fractions prevented LPO and boosted GSH, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in P-407-administered rats. The EA fraction showed more effective anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects than other fractions and downregulated SREBP-2 while upregulated ABCA1 and LDL-R and ameliorated LPL and HMG-CoA reductase in hyperlipidemic rats. Conclusion: MEACL showed in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity and the EA fraction significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia in a rat model of P-407-induced acute hyperlipidemia by modulating LPL, PL, HMG-CoA reductase, and cholesterolgenesis-related factors. Therefore, the leaves of A. carambola represent a safe alternative for the star fruit particularly in kidney disease patients, and the EA is the most effective anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant fraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisa Siddiq Abduh
- Immune Responses in Different Diseases Research Group, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sultan A M Saghir
- Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma'an, Jordan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Amir M Al Hroob
- Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma'an, Jordan
| | - Albandari Bin-Ammar
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayat H Al-Tarawni
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan
| | - Vikneswaran Murugaiyah
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ayman M Mahmoud
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Physiology Division, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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