Evaluation of acute toxicity of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima aqueous extracts in Swiss mice

Abstract

Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima is a plant widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and used as a traditional medicine. The present study evaluated the biochemical composition and the potential toxicity of aqueous extract of whole Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima through acute toxicity oral administration in male mice. Phytochemical analysis of the Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima revealed high levels of reductor sugars and significant flavonoid and total phenol content. The aqueous extract of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima was daily oral administered to mice at doses of 300 (group 1), 2000 (group 2) and 4000 (group 3) mg/kg body weight per day for 14 days. We observed no significant difference in the consumption of food, body weight and relative organ weights except for an increase in the seminal vesicles weight in group 3. Hematological parameters revealed the non-adverse effects of prolonged oral consumption of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima except for a slight increase but significant of percentage of hematocrit in group 1 and 3 and a decrease in percentage of granulocytes in group 2. The histopathologic examination did not show any differences in vital organs. We also observed non-adverse effects on the reproductive parameters including testosterone concentration, spermatozoa motility and morphologies. Based on our findings, the aqueous extract of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima could be considered safe for oral medication in animals.

Keywords: Food intake; Hematological parameters; Plant extracts; Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima; Toxicity.