ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY STUDY OF THE CRUDE ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF FICUS PSEUDOPALMA BLANCO (MORACEAE) IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

Abstract

Ficus pseudopalma Blanco is an ornamental plant endemic to the Philippines, especially in the island of Luzon. It is commonly used to treat kidney stones and diabetes and used for edible fruits. The leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable despite the absence of studies on its possible toxic effect. This study was conducted to assess any toxicity of its leaf extract. Acute oral toxicity of the crude ethanolic leaf extract of F. pseudoplama was performed according to the guidelines set by OECD 425 on six 8-12 week old female Sprague Dawley rats weighing from 160-210g. One rat was treated with normal saline solution that served as the control. Toxicological and pharmacological observations were completed for 14 days. On day 14, all test animals were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and subjected to gross necropsy; liver samples were subjected to histopathological examination. Gross examination of the rodent’s organs was all  normal and regarded as unremarkable. Toxicological screening showed that the experimentally treated rats behaved almost normally as the control. Histopathological examination showed no area of hepatic zonal necrosis and tumor formation was identified, no cytological aypia and sinusoid congestion, intact and uninterrupted hepatic lobular architecture, and portal tracts and vessels were unremarkable. These findings strongly suggest that the leaf extract is non toxic and safe for consumption up to 2000 mg/kg BW and may therefore be used for future nutraceuticals and drug development.