Toxicología subcrónica del extracto acuoso de Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour. ) Spreng

Por el amplio uso de Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (oregano frances) en la poblacion y por su posible utilizacion a largo plazo en las afecciones convulsivas y el tracto respiratorio, se planteo el estudio toxicologico subcronico de un extracto acuoso (liofilizado) de las partes aereas. Se llevo a cabo en ratas Wistar de los 2 sexos, administrados por via oral a las dosis de 500 y 50 mg de solidos totales liofilizados/kg de peso corporal durante 90 d; los animales fueron pesados semanalmente y al final del tratamiento se muestrearon para la determinacion de los indicadores hematologicos y quimicos sanguineos, asi como el estudio histologico de organos. El comportamiento de los animales y los indicadores evaluados no fueron afectados por el tratamiento, las alteraciones microscopicas observadas en los animales fueron esporadicas con muy baja incidencia en todos los grupos. El estudio no demostro efectos toxicos en los animales, que pudieran estar asociados a la administracion repetida del extracto acuoso liofilizado de Plectranthus amboinicus. Due to the wide use of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (French oregano) in the population and to its possible use on the long term in the convulsive affections and the respiratory tract, it was recommended the toxicological subchronic study of an aqueous extract (freeze-dried) of the aerial parts. The study was conducted in Wistar rats of both sexes. Doses of 500 and 50 mg of freeze-dried total solids/kg of body weight were administered by oral route during 90 days. The animals were weekly weighted and at the end of the treatment they were sampled to determine the haematological and blood chemical indicators, as well as the histological study of organs. The behavior of the animals and the evaluated indicators were not affected by the treatment. The microscopic alterations observed in the animals were sporadic with a very low incidence in all groups. The study did not prove the existence of toxic effects in the animals that could be associated with the repeated administration of the freeze-dried aqueous extract of Plectranthus amboinicus.