Acute and sub chronic toxicity of Chiranthodendron pentadactylon leaf extract in rats

The Mexican hand tree (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon) is native to Mexico and is used as a medicinal plant to treat various ailments. This paper constitutes the first report on the leaf extract´s toxicity. In the acute test, different doses of aqueous C. pentadactylon leaf extract were tested: 20, 200, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. They were administered to Wistar rats (6 rats in each group) and then, observed individually 1 h post-dosing, and at least once daily for 14 days. Sub-chronic toxicity was evaluated after administering daily oral doses of 200 mg/kg body weight, to the rats for 28 days. Evaluations of mortality, and morbidity, including behavioral changes, biochemical and hematological parameters, as well as anatomical changes and histopathological analyses were performed. The results obtained showed that the doses used did not cause any mortality or signs of acute toxicity in the animals tested during the experiment and analysis period. The sub-chronic test also agrees with the acute results, no mortality or morbidity was observed. Body weight was incremented constantly in the period analyzed for acute and chronic toxicity. The extracts showed no pyretic properties. The leaf extract from this plant presented neither mortality nor toxicity when using 5000 mg/kg body weight in the acute toxicity test, so it is classified into category 5 “not classified LD50 > 2000 mg/kg”. The biochemical and hematological parameters obtained in the acute and sub-chronic administration presented no differences to the control (saline solution) group. The anatomical and histopathological analysis of liver and kidney showed no morphological differences in all doses tested. Thus, this study demonstrates that aqueous extracts from C. pentadactylon orally administered to rats is completely safe with no toxicity.