Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic extract of leaves from Doliocarpus dentatus in Swiss mice

Abstract

Doliocarpus dentatus (Dilleniaceae) has been used in folk medicine to treat inflammation and pain; however, studies evaluating its toxicity potential, as well as its effects on anxiety and depression, are scarce. This study investigated the toxicological profile of an ethanolic extract from leaves of D. dentatus (EEDd), and its effects on anxiety and depression models in mice. Male and female mice received either a single dose (500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg) or repeated doses (75, 150 or 300 mg/kg) of EEDd by oral gavage. During the subacute toxicity assay, behavioral tests were performed on days 4, 14, 21 and 28. No evidence of toxicity was observed in the animals in both acute and subacute tests. However, males treated with the highest dose presented a reduction in the absolute weight of the kidney, an elevation in the AST levels, in addition to an alteration in the urea levels. The treatment did not affect other biochemical parameters, and did not induce any depressive-like behavior. EEDd exhibited low toxicity after single and repeated exposures. Since some analyzed parameters were compromised, further toxicity studies should be carried out.

Keywords:

• Dilleniaceae
• acute toxicity
• subacute toxicity
• depressive-like behavior
• anxiety

Acknowledgement

The Authors thank University Center of Grande Dourados (Unigran) for the infrastructure to perform the biochemical parameters.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the scholarship [Finance code 001], Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for scholarship [Finance code 135701/2020–1], CNPq for financial support [Finance codes 311975/2018–6 and 310923/2017–4], Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT) [Finace code SIAFEM 028991]. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.