Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Extract from Haloxylon scoparium Pomel (Hammada scoparia (Pomel)) by Oral Administration in Rodents

Acute and Chronic Oral Toxicity of Hydroethanolic Extract of Sclerocarya birrea (Anacardiaceae) in Wistar Rats

Background

Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). Hochst, popularly known as Morula, is a plant in the Anacardiaceae family. The bark, fruits, and leaves have traditionally been used to manage a variety of health conditions, most especially diabetes. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of data and publications on the toxicity and safety of this plant.

Purpose

The current study was designed to assess the acute and chronic toxicity of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea in albino rats.

Materials and Methods

Sclerocarya birrea was extracted using an 80-20% hydro-ethanolic solution. For the acute toxicity study, female Wistar albino rats were treated with hydro-ethanolic leaf extract at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight and followed-up for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, 40 healthy Wistar albino rats were divided in 4 groups. The three treatment groups were administered the leaf hydro-ethanolic extract orally at dosages of 30, 150, and 1000 mg/kg once day for 90 days and the fourth group was a control group. Body and organs weights, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters were measured at the end of the experiment.

Results

Single-dose oral administration of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Sclerocarya birrea at 5000 mg/kg produced no mortality indicating the LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Following 90 days of administration of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea leaves, there was no significant change in body and organs weights. Furthermore, biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters did not vary significantly.

Conclusion

This data indicates neither acute or chronic toxicity in rats and is consistent with the widespread and long-term usage of Sclerocarya birrea in African traditional medicine.

Intrinsic properties and extrinsic factors of food matrix system affecting the effectiveness of essential oils in foods: a comprehensive review

Essential oils (EOs) have been proved as natural food preservatives because of their effective and wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. They have been extensively explored for potential applications in food industry, and substantial progresses have been achieved. However well EOs perform in antibacterial tests in vitro, it has generally been found that a higher level of EOs is needed to achieve the same effect in foods. Nevertheless, this unsimilar effect has not been clearly quantified and elaborated, as well as the underlying mechanisms. This review highlights the influence of intrinsic properties (e.g., oils and fats, carbohydrates, proteins, pH, physical structure, water, and salt) and extrinsic factors (e.g., temperature, bacteria characteristics, and packaging in vacuum/gas/air) of food matrix systems on EOs action. Controversy findings and possible mechanism hypotheses are also systematically discussed. Furthermore, the organoleptic aspects of EOs in foods and promising strategies to address this hurdle are reviewed. Finally, some considerations about the EOs safety are presented, as well as the future trends and research prospects of EOs applications in foods. The present review aims to fill the evidenced gap, providing a comprehensive overview about the influence of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of food matrix systems to efficiently orientate EOs applications.

Phytochemical characterization, anti-diarrhoeal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities and toxicity profile of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr (pineapple) leaf in albino rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ananas comosus (pineapple) leaf is used in ethnomedicine to treat diarrhoea, inflammation, pain, bacterial infections and oedema.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects as well as the toxicity profile of the aqueous Ananas comosus leaf extract (AACLE) in rats.

METHODS

Methanol ACLE was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. In the acute toxicity study, a single oral dose of up to 5000 mg/kg AACLE was administered. In the subacute toxicity study (28 days), rats in groups 2-4 received AACLE orally. The anti-diarrhoeal effect was studied using charcoal meal and castor oil-induced diarrhoea. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic tests were measured using egg albumin-induced paw oedema and acetic acid-induced writhing methods, respectively. For the subacute toxicity, anti-diarrhoeal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory studies, AACLE was administered orally to rats at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight.

RESULTS

Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, n-hexadecanoic acid and n-heptadecanol-1 were identified among other compounds with known pharmacological activities by GC-MS analysis. No deaths, behavioural changes, or signs of toxicity were observed in the acute toxicity study. Treatment with AACLE (28 days) decreased aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glutathione, and catalase increased when compared with control (P < 0.05). Treatment with AACLE did not cause significant changes in haematological or renal function parameters. Treatment with AACLE inhibited gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. Treatment with AACLE resulted in a dose-dependent (200-600 mg/kg) significant (P < 0.05) anti-diarrhoeal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effect compared to standard drugs.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that ACLE is not toxic but contains bioactive compounds with anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective activity. AACLE has antidiarrhoeal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in rats, which justifies its therapeutic use in traditional medicine.

Comprehensive Review on the Genus Haloxylon: Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties

AIMS

This review aimed to review the biological, pharmacological, and phytochemical aspects of the genus Haloxylon.

BACKGROUND

Plants of the genus Haloxylon have been used for a long time in traditional medicine, and they are distributed in the western Mediterranean region to the Middle East, Iran, Mongolia, Burma, and southwest China. The studied parts of Haloxylon species include aerial parts, leaves, branches, seeds, roots, rhizosphere, soil, and whole plants, used to treat several diseases, including sexual disorders, hepatobiliary disorders, eye disorders, skin diseases and hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and effective in the treatment of various ailments such as snake bite, stomach ache, diabetes, wounds, earache and sciatica pain, windbreak dune fixation, feeding of livestock and firewood.

OBJECTIVES

Till now, no review on the genus Haloxylon has been conducted. This review aimed to provide updated information on the genus Haloxylon, including traditional medicinal uses, valorization and exploitation of medicinal plants, phytochemistry, botanical characterization, pharmacological and toxicological research focusing on the medicinal properties of several Haloxylon species, especially their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antifungal activities, as well as the effect of each bioactive molecule isolated from these species and their pharmacological use, including the preclinical evaluation of new drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present work was conducted using various scientific databases, including Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc. Correct plant names were verified from plantlist.org. The results of this search were interpreted, analyzed, and documented based on the obtained bibliographic information.

RESULTS

Among all species of the Chenopodiaceae family, 6 species of the Haloxylon genus have approved antioxidant activity, 5 species have antibacterial activity, 3 species have anti-inflammatory activity, 2 species have cytotoxic activity, and 3 species have antifungal activity. The majority of the chemical constituents of this plant include flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. Among them, the main bioactive constituents would be present in the alkaloid fraction. The study of more than 9 Haloxylon plants has identified more than 46 compounds. Pharmacological research proved that crude extracts and some pure compounds obtained from Haloxylon had activities for the treatment of different diseases. The objective of the present study was focused on antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antifungal diseases. From the study of the phytochemistry of the Haloxylon family, it was concluded that all studied plants had active compounds. Among them, 11 isolated molecules have medicinal activities with antioxidant properties, 10 molecules showed antibacterial effects, more than 6 molecules have anti-inflammatory properties, more than 9 isolated molecules have medicinal activities against cytotoxic diseases, and more than 28 molecules have antifungal effects. Therefore, the safety of Haloxylon herbal medicine should be considered a top priority in the early stages of development and clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Several previously conducted studies have validated multiple traditional uses of Haloxylon species. Further research is needed on Haloxylon plants before they can be fully utilized in the clinic as a potent drug candidate, as researchers are mainly focusing on alkaloids, diterpenoids, and triterpenoids, whereas there are many other types of compounds that may possess novel biological activities.

In Vitro Cercaricidal Activity, Acute Toxicity, and GC/MS Analysis of Some Selected Ghanaian Medicinal Plants

Schistosomiasis is a human parasitic disease caused by the Schistosoma species and is recognised in public health as second to malaria in terms of its socioeconomic impact on humans. Four local plants native to many tribes in Ghana and known for their medicinal properties against some diseases were assessed for their cercaricidal activity against Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The plants, namely, Newbouldia laevis stem bark (NLSB), Spathodea campanulata stem bark (SCSB), Momordica charantia leaves (MCL), and Ocimum viride leaves (OVL), were extracted for their active metabolites using methanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out on all plant extracts and powdered samples. The crude extracts were tested against S. mansoni cercariae in vitro using Balanites aegyptiaca as the positive control. The percentage of mortalities for each extract was recorded. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was conducted on all the plant extracts. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, glycosides, triterpenoids, sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in almost all the extracts. GC/MS analysis showed the presence of medicinally important active volatile compounds in each extract such as thymol, n-hexadecanoic acid, phytol, and maltol. All four plants showed relatively different levels of activity against S. mansoni cercariae at different times and concentrations. The LC50 values of the plant extracts were determined at the end of the assay. At 240 min, NLSB, SCSB, MCL, and OVL extracts had LC50 values of 487.564, 429.898, 197.696, and 0.129 μg/mL, respectively. Hence, this study revealed the potency of Ocimum viride leaves, Momordica charantia leaves, Spathodea campanulata stem bark, and Newbouldia laevis stem bark against S. mansoni. These plants could therefore be exploited as possible candidates for curbing schistosomiasis.

Conocarpus lancifolius (Combretaceae): Pharmacological Effects, LC-ESI-MS/MS Profiling and In Silico Attributes

In folklore medicine, Conocarpus lancifolius is used to treat various illnesses. The main objective of this study was a comprehensive investigation of Conocarpus lancifolius leaf aqueous extract (CLAE) for its antioxidant, cardioprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant and memory-enhancing capabilities by using different in vitro, in vivo and in silico models. The in vitro experimentation revealed that CLAE consumed an ample amount of total phenolics (67.70 ± 0.15 µg GAE/mg) and flavonoids (47.54 ± 0.45 µg QE/mg) with stronger antiradical effects through DPPH (IC₅₀ = 16.66 ± 0.42 µg/mL), TAC (77.33 ± 0.41 µg AAE/mg) and TRP (79.11 ± 0.67 µg GAE/mg) assays. The extract also displayed suitable acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory (IC₅₀ = 110.13 ± 1.71 µg/mL) activity through a modified Ellman's method. The toxicology examination presented no mortality or any signs of clinical toxicity in both single-dose and repeated-dose tests. In line with the cardioprotective study, the pretreatment of CLAE was found to be effective in relieving the isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury in rats by normalizing the heart weight index, serum cardiac biomarkers, lipid profile and various histopathological variations. In the noise-stress-induced model for behavior attributes, the results demonstrated that CLAE has the tendency to increase the time spent in the central zone and elevated open arms in the open field and elevated plus maze tests (examined for anxiety assessment), reduced periods of immobility in the forced swimming test (for depression) and improved recognition and working memory in the novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests, respectively. Moreover, the LC-ESI-MS/MS profiling predicted 53 phytocompounds in CLAE. The drug-likeness and ADMET analysis exhibited that the majority of the identified compounds have reasonable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profiles. The co-expression of molecular docking and network analysis indicated that top-ranked CLAE phytoconstituents act efficiently against the key proteins and target multiple signaling pathways to exert its cardiovascular-protectant, anxiolytic, antidepressant and memory-enhancing activity. Hence, this artifact illustrates that the observed biological properties of CLAE elucidate its significance as a sustainable source of bioactive phytochemicals, which appears to be advantageous for pursuing further studies for the development of new therapeutic agents of desired interest.

Oral acute, sub-acute toxicity and phytochemical profile of Brassica carinata A. Braun microgreens ethanolic extract in Wistar rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Currently, there is a remarkable increase in the consumption of microgreens, (young edible vegetables or herbs), as potential nutraceuticals for the management of diseases. Brassica carinata A. Braun is one of the traditional leafy vegetables cultivated in various parts of Sub- Saharan Africa. The plant is revered for its efficacy in the treatment of wounds and gastrointestinal disorders among other medicinal benefits. It is therefore crucial to characterize Brassica carinata microgreens for their phytoconstituents and ascertain their safety for use.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study evaluated the oral acute and subacute toxicity of Brassica carinata microgreens ethanol extract (BMEE) in Wistar rats and identification of its chemical composition and profile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For acute toxicity (14 days), rats were grouped into four and received a single oral dose, the control group received distilled water, while others received 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg of BMEE. For the subacute toxicity (28 days), rats in four groups received daily doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg and distilled water. Daily clinical observations like lethargy and mortality were conducted. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed at the end of each experiment. Phytochemical profile was determined using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis determined the potential bioactive components in the microgreens extract.

RESULTS

In both acute and sub-acute toxicity studies, no mortalities, indications of abnormality, or any treatment related adverse effects were observed at doses of 2000 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. The LD₅₀ of BMEE was above 2000 mg/kg. No significant (p > 0.05) changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of the treated groups compared to the control groups in both studies. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, lungs, and heart revealed a normal architecture of the tissues in all the treated animals. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids (most abundant), phenols and alkaloids. Phytol, linoleic acid, and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, among other compounds, were identified by GC-MS analysis.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that B. carinata microgreens ethanol extract is nontoxic and found to have several compounds with reported pharmacological significance suggesting safety for use.

Secondary metabolite contents and safety assessment study of the aqueous extract from the Algerian Echium trygorrhizum Pomel roots

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Species of Echium trygorrhizum Pomel, belonging to the Boraginaceae family, grow wild in North Africa. This plant is used in traditional Algerian medicine for the treatment of Diabetes, Jaundice and Tonsillitis.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To our knowledge, no work has been done on the phytochemistry and biological activities of this plant. Moreover, no study has yet corroborated that the use of this plant is safe. Therefore, the present study was carried out to gather information on the various medicinal uses of this plant and to evaluate the total phenolic content and assess its safety after acute and sub-acute toxicity tests with rodents (mice and rats).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An ethnopharmacological survey was carried out using a direct questionnaire. It included some questions relating to the plant. The content of polyphénols, flavonoids and tannins present in the aqueous extract was determined by colorimetric methods. In the acute toxicity tests, three groups each containing five males and five females Albino mice were formed. The control group received water, while the test groups received different doses of aqueous extract (2000 and 5000) mg/kg body weight. In the subacute toxicity study, different doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) of the aqueous extract were administered to male and female rats for 28 consecutive days. Hematological analysis, biochemical parameters estimation and histopathological examination have been determined at the end of the treatment.

RESULTS

Data from the ethnopharmacological survey showed that 25, 31% of people used this plant in Algeria as a traditional medicine for the treatment of Jaundice (100%), Diabetes (28, 33%) and Tonsillitis (10%). Results also revealed that aqueous extract contains high amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins. The extract did not cause any toxicity during the 14-days observation period after a single dose of 5000 mg/kg was administered to mice, with LD50 values greater than 5000 mg/kg. In a further step, the administration of the aqueous extract at all dose levels (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) to male and female rats during the 28-days study did not result in any deaths or behavioral changes, and there were no changes in body weight, relative organ weights, or food consumption as a result of this experiment. However, male rats showed a significant difference in relative liver weight in the high dose group (1000 mg/kg) (p < 0.05) and the satellite group (p < 0.01). In female rats, liver weight significantly increased only in the satellite group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The results showed an increase in red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) in the female groups. However, a clear decrease was observed in plasma ALP enzyme activities in females treated with the doses of 250 and 1000 mg/kg (p < 0.05) after the treatment periods.

CONCLUSION

The study indicated that the single dose of 5 g/kg AQE can be considered relatively safe as it did not cause death or any signs of toxicity in mice. Repeated oral administration of AQE at doses below 250 g/kg/day for 28 consecutive days can be considered relatively safe.

Study of the Antihypertensive and Vasorelaxant Activities of Haloxylon scoparium in Rats

AIMS

The work aimed to study the antihypertensive ability of Haloxylon scoparium.

BACKGROUND

Haloxylon scoparium Pomel is used to treat various diseases, including hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive effect of Haloxylon scoparium (H. scoparium) in hypertensive rats, and to evaluate its probable vasorelaxant activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aqueous extract of Haloxylon scoparium (AEHS) was prepared and used to investigate its antihypertensive ability in L-NAME(Nω-L-arginine methyl ester)-induced hypertensive rats, and its vasorelaxant activity was studied on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats. The acute and subchronic effects of (AEHS) on blood pressure parameters were evaluated after oral administration of AEHS (60 and 100 mg/kg body weight) for 6 h for the acute experiment and for 7 days for the subchronic test.

RESULTS

The results indicated that AEHS decreased blood pressure parameters (systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure) after repeated oral administration in hypertensive rats without affecting normal rats. In addition, AEHS (375-1250 μg/mL) revealed a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE) (10 μM) or KCl (80 mM). This effect was partially decreased in the presence of nifedipine by inhibition of the vascular calcium channel pathway in isolated rat thoracic aorta.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates the beneficial effect of Haloxylon scoparium as an antihypertensive agent. Moreover, this plant exerts vasorelaxant activity via the blockade of Ca²⁺ channels.

Antihyperglycemic Effect of Rhamnus alaternus L. Aqueous Extract in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, the aerial parts of Rhamnus alaternus L. have been widely used in Mediterranean countries, including Morocco, to cure diabetes.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Rhamnus alaternus aqueous extract in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of Rhamnus alaternus aqueous extract (RAAE) in normal and diabetic rats. Then the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and potential toxicity of RAAE were also assessed.

METHODS

The effects of acute (6 h) and subchronic (7 days) oral administration of RAAE (20 mg/kg) on blood glucose levels and lipid profiles were evaluated in normal and diabetic rats. Besides, a preliminary phytochemical screening, quantification of phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents as well as the antioxidant activity, using the DPPH method, were evaluated. Additionally, the toxicity of the aqueous extract (5 mg/kg) was also studied and the LD50 value was determined.

RESULTS

RAAE (20 mg/kg) over 7 days of oral administration significantly decreased the blood glucose levels both in normal and diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, this extract also improved oral glucose tolerance. In addition, RAAE possessed significant antioxidant activity. According to preliminary phytochemical research, RAAE contains several chemical compounds, including alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, cyanidins, anthraquinones, and sterols. On the other hand, the quantitative phytochemical study of the aqueous extract revealed a considerable amount of total phenolic compounds (497.93 ± 3.38 mg GAE/1g of RAAE), flavonoids (100.42 ± 0.32 mg RE/ g of RAAE), and tannins (14.32 ± 0.37 mg CE/1g of RAAE).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that RAAE exerts a significant antihyperglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats at a low dose. Indeed, more research is still required to support the use of this plant in the Moroccan population's diabetes care.

In Vitro Antimitotic and Hypoglycemic Effect Study and Acute Toxicity Assessment of the Aqueous and Organic Extracts of Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea Andre

Background. Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea Andre is a plant widely spread in the region of Taza (North-East of Morocco); it is used in traditional phytotherapy against cancer, diabetes, inflammations, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and for the treatment of digestive disorders. Objective and Methods. The objective of our work is to contribute firstly, to the study of the in vitro antimitotic potential by the phytotest of Lepidium sativum and the evaluation of the in vitro antidiabetic activity of three enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and β-galactosidase) on nine aqueous and organic extracts prepared from the leaves of Chamaerops humilis. In addition, a correlation study was carried out on the chemical composition and the antimitotic and antidiabetic activities of Chamaerops humilis leaves. Then, we tested the acute toxicity of the decocted extract and the ethanolic extract. Results. The results of the antimitotic activity showed that the decocted extract showed a higher inhibitory activity than the other aqueous extracts (IC₅₀ = 9.624 × 10³ ± 95.97 μg/mL); for the organic extracts, the ethanolic extract and ethanolic macerated expressed the highest values for the cell growth inhibition test with an IC₅₀ of 5.638 × 10³ ± 22.61 and 5.599 × 10³ ± 45.51 μg/mL with statistically nonsignificant difference. Regarding the antidiabetic activity, the decocted showed a higher inhibitory activity than the other aqueous extracts for α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 1.781 · 10⁵ ± 358.30 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (2.540 × 10² ± 3.14 μg/mL), and β-galactosidase (7.118 × 10² ± 16.13 μg/mL); the ethanolic extract also revealed the highest inhibitory activity for α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 8.902 × 10³ ± 57.81 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (2.216 × 10² ± 1.39 μg/mL), and β-galactosidase (2.003 × 10² ± 7.41 μg/mL). A strong correlation was recorded between the antimitic activity and the inhibitory capacity of β-galactosidase and between these two activities and the chemical composition of Chamaerops humilis leaves. The acute toxicity study showed that the decocted and the ethanolic extract are weakly toxic with an LD₅₀ greater than or equal to 5000 mg/kg. Conclusion. Chamaerops humilis could become a good source in traditional herbal medicine.

Subacute Toxicity Effects of the Aqueous Shoot Extract of Yushania alpina (K. Schum.) W.C.Lin in Sprague Dawley Rats: An Appraisal of Its Safety in Ethnomedicinal Usage

Plant-based medicines have effectively managed several ailments in humans and animals since prehistoric times. However, the pharmacologic efficacy and safety of many plants currently used in traditional medicine have not been explored empirically, which raises serious public health concerns, derailing further research and their integration into the conventional healthcare system. Despite the longstanding ethnomedicinal usage of Yushania alpina shoot extract to treat inflammation, microbial infections, and diarrhoea, among other diseases, there is insufficient scientific data to appraise its toxicity profile and safety. Accordingly, we investigated the subacute toxicity of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina in Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) for 28 days based on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 407. In this study, all the experimental rats treated orally with 40 mg/Kg BW, 200 mg/Kg BW, and 1000 mg/Kg BW of the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina remained normal, like the control group rats, and did not show any clinical signs of subacute toxicity, and no morbidity or mortality was recorded. Besides, the weekly body weight gains and the haematological and biochemical parameters of experimental rats orally administered with the studied plant extract at the tested doses and in the control group were comparable (P > 0.05). No pathologic alterations in internal organs were observed following necroscopy. Further, the differences in weights of the liver, kidney, and spleen of experimental rats which were subacutely treated with the studied plant extract and the control rats were insignificant (P > 0.05). Moreover, no histopathological changes were observed in tissue sections of the liver, kidney, and spleen obtained from all the experimental rats. Our findings demonstrate that the aqueous shoot extract of Y. alpina may be safe as it does not elicit subacute toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Further toxicological and pharmacological studies using other model animals and in clinical setups are encouraged to fully appraise the efficacy and safety of the studied plant extract.

The Antitriple Negative Breast cancer Efficacy of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn on ROS-Induced Noncanonical Inflammasome Pyroptotic Pathway

Breast cancer (BCa) is the leading cause of women's death worldwide; among them, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most troublesome subtypes with easy recurrence and great aggressive properties. Spatholobus suberectus Dunn has been used in the clinic of Chinese society for hundreds of years. Shreds of evidence showed that Spatholobus suberectus Dunn has a favorable outcome in the management of cancer. However, the anti-TNBC efficacy of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn percolation extract (SSP) and its underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Hence, the present study is aimed at evaluating the anti-TNBC potential of SSP both in vitro and in vivo, through the cell viability, morphological analysis of MDA-MB-231, LDH release assay, ROS assay, and the tests of GSH aborted pyroptotic noninflammasome signaling pathway. Survival analysis using the KM Plotter and TNM plot database exhibited the inhibition of transcription levels of caspase-4 and 9 related to low relapse-free survival in patients with BCa. Based on the findings, SSP possesses anti-TNBC efficacy that relies on ROS-induced noncanonical inflammasome pyroptosis in cancer cells. In this study, our preclinical evidence is complementary to the preceding clinic of Chinese society; studies on the active principles of SPP remain underway in our laboratory.

Potential Toxicity of Medicinal Plants Inventoried in Northeastern Morocco: An Ethnobotanical Approach

Herbal medicine and its therapeutic applications are widely practiced in northeastern Morocco, and people are knowledgeable about it. Nonetheless, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding their safety. In this study, we reveal the toxic and potential toxic species used as medicines by people in northeastern Morocco in order to compile and document indigenous knowledge of those herbs. Structured and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and simple random sampling was used as a sampling technique. Based on this information, species were collected, identified, and herbarium sheets were created. The collected data were analyzed using two quantitative indices: informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (Fl), as the degree of these indices give an insight into the level of toxicity of a given plant. The results revealed the knowledge of 55 species belonging to 36 families. The most represented families were Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Fabaceae. Furthermore, the majority of the species cited were herbs (67%), and the most common toxic parts were seeds, followed by leaves and roots. According to the informant consensus factor, death (0.81%) had the highest agreement, followed by the urological (0.76%) and skin (0.75%) categories. The most significant plants in terms of fidelity level were Solanum sodomaeum L. and Nerium oleander L. for death, Arisarum vulgare O. Targ. Tozz., Mentha spicata L., and Morus alba L. for the digestive category, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss. and Citrus x aurantium L. for cardiovascular category, Urtica dioica L. for skin category, Datura stramonium L, and Ephedra altissima Desf. for neurological category, and finally Crocus sativus L. for general and unspecified category. This work highlights a valuable traditional knowledge of poisonous and potential poisonous plants in northeastern Morocco. Further phytochemical and toxicological research is needed to determine the safety of these prized herbs.

Toxicological Screening of 4-Phenyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[h]quinolin-2(1H)-one: A New Potential Candidate for Alzheimer's Treatment

Toxicity studies are necessary for the development of a new drug. Naphthalene is a bicyclic molecule and is easy to derivatize. In our previous study, a derivative of naphthalene (4-phenyl,3,4-dihydrobenzoquinoline-2(H)one) was synthesized and reported its in vitro activity on different enzymes. This study was a probe to investigate the toxicity potential of that compound (SF3). Acute oral (425), subacute (407), and teratogenicity (414) studies were planned according to their respective guidelines given by organization of economic cooperation and development (OECD). Acute oral, subacute, and teratogenicity studies were carried out on 2000, 5-40, and 40 mg/kg doses. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Vital organs were excised for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde) and histopathological analysis. LD 50 of SF3 was higher than 2000 mg/kg. In acute and subacute studies, levels of alkaline phosphates and aspartate transaminase were increased. Teratogenicity showed no resorptions, no skeletal or soft tissue abnormalities, and no cleft pallet. Oxidative stress biomarkers were close to the normal, and no increase in the malondialdehyde level was seen. Histopathological studies revealed normal tissue architecture of the selected organs, except kidney, in acute oral and subacute toxicity studies at 40 mg/kg. The study concluded that SF3 is safer if used as a drug.

Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Caralluma europaea Stem Extract against CCl4-Induced Hepatic Damage in Wistar Rats

The present study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of stem aqueous extract of Caralluma europaea (AECe) on carbon tetrachloride- (CCl₄-) induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats. The animals were daily treated with the aqueous extract of C. europaea at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. CCl₄ was injected (1 ml/kg, i.p.) two times, on the 7^th and 14^th days. At the end of the experimental period, all rats were anesthetized to collect blood for the assessment of biochemical parameters and then sacrificed to collect the liver for weighing. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin (total and direct), malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c ), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Based on the results obtained in this study, the administration of C. europaea before exposure to the administration of CCl₄ conferred favorable hepatoprotective effect in rats. The treatment with AECe (250 mg/kg) exhibits a significant hepatoprotective effect by ameliorating CCl₄-induced alterations of these biochemical parameters. Hence, C. europaea could be a potential medicinal herb that can be used in the future to prevent liver intoxication.