Phytochemical Analysis and Toxicity Study of Aristolochia paucinervis Rhizomes Decoction Used in Moroccan Alternative Medicine: Histopathological and Biochemical Profiles

Mohammed Bourhia; Ayoub Lahmadi; Hafid Achtak; Ayoub Touis; Jamal Elbrahmi; Riaz Ullah; Abdelaaty A Shahat; Hafiz Majid Mahmood; Souad Aboudkhil; Laila Benbacer; Naima Khlil

doi:10.1155/2019/1398404

Phytochemical Analysis and Toxicity Study of Aristolochia paucinervis Rhizomes Decoction Used in Moroccan Alternative Medicine: Histopathological and Biochemical Profiles

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jul 3:2019:1398404. doi: 10.1155/2019/1398404. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Chemistry Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Environment, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco.
² Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment, and Agri-food, Faculty of Science and Technology University Hassan II, Mohammedia, Morocco.
³ Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Safi, Cadi Ayyad University, Safi, Morocco.
⁴ Laboratory of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, University of Abdelmalek Essaadi Tetouan, Morocco.
⁵ Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, PO Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, P.O. Box 1262233, El Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University PO Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Life Science Division, National Centre for Energy, Sciences, and Nuclear Techniques, Rabat, Morocco.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Aristolochia paucinervis (A. paucinervis) (Aristolochiaceae) is a plant frequently used in Moroccan alternative medicine. The aim of the current study is to investigate the phytochemical composition of rhizomes decoction of A. paucinervis (RDA) and to evaluate its acute and subacute toxicity following the OECD guidelines.

Materials and methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of A. paucinervis was performed using standard qualitative phytochemical procedures. The acute toxicity of rhizomes decoction of the studied plant was evaluated in mice at single doses of 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of body weight for 14 days. In subacute toxicity study, the decoction was orally administered to mice at three different doses (0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg/day) for 28 days. Histopathological and biochemical parameters were investigated.

Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and polyphenols and the absence of anthraquinones, sterols, and terpenes. There was no mortality and no significant changes occurred in animals treated with 1 and 2 g/kg in the acute toxicity model. The signs of toxicity and morbidity were remarkable with the highest tested dose (4g/kg). LD₅₀ (dose required to kill 50% of the test population) was determined as 4 g/kg. Repeated oral administration of 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day of RDA for 28 days induced significant disturbance of serum parameters (AST, ALT, LDH, urea, creatinine). Kidney and liver extracted from mice fed with 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day showed significant histopathological injuries as tubular necrosis, inflammatory infiltrate, tubular degeneration, necrosis, and hepatic cholestasis. Meanwhile, neither histopathological nor biochemical alterations were observed in mice treated with 0.5 g/kg/day of body weight in comparison to the control group.

Conclusion: RDA showed toxicity in mice at a dose of 1 g/kg/day under subacute toxicity conditions. RDA is safe at a single dose inferior to 4 g/kg of body weight. The plant extract prepared by decoction showed more poisonous effect than the extract prepared by maceration at room temperature.