Acute and Subchronic Toxicological Evaluations of Allium rotundum L.: A Dietary Plant from Iran

ABSTRACT

Allium rotundum L. is a dietary plant with diverse nutritional and herbal applications. According to its widespread application in Iranians’ diets, understanding the possible adverse effects and toxic activities could be of major importance. The aim of this study was to establish the acute and subchronic toxicity profile of the hydroalcoholic extract of Allium rotundum on male and female Wistar rats. The acute study indicated no adverse effect or toxic activity after administration of the extract, suggesting that the LD₅₀ value is up to 5,000 mg/kg body weight for the extract. The subchronic study at three doses (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg body weight/day) supported the results of acute study and revealed that no abnormal change or toxicity was induced by the extract in both male and female Wistar rats. All the biochemical and hematological parameters of the treated rats were in historical range after long-term administration of the extract. The histopathological examination also revealed no lesion or alteration in the tissue of vital organs (kidney, liver, heart, lung, and spleen). The NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) value was high enough (greater than 750 mg/kg body weight/ day) to conclude the nontoxic nature of this extract. The safety of this extract was affirmed by the acute and subchronic toxic studies and suggested that this plant could be a proper and effective dietary plant due to its high nutritive value and inherent therapeutic properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Acute toxicity
• Allium rotundum
• dietary plant
• subchronic toxicity

Acknowledgment

This work was performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for PharmD of Sajad Farhangian, in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Research Council of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences for financial support (grant no. 95316).

Notes on contributors

Leila Hosseinzadeh

Leila Hosseinzadeh, PhD of Toxicology, Associate Professor of Toxicology at department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Her research interests include cell culture, Cytotoxicity evaluation methods (such as MTT assay, SRB assay, Clonogenic assay).

Sajad Farhangian

Sajad Farhangian, Pharm.D, is a research specialist at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah, Iran. His research interests include discovery of natural-based drugs and dietary supplements.

Marziyeh Hajialyani

Marziyeh Hajialyani, MSc of Chemical Engineering, is a research instructor at School of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Her research interest includes drug delivery systems, Nano-formulation and natural products.

Arash Bahari

Arash Bahari, Msc, is a research specialist in animal handling, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. His researches interest includes Injection, gavage, and surgery of animals.

Mohammad Hosein Farzaei

Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, PhD of Traditional Medicine, Assistant Professor at department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, His research interest includes Traditional Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, Phytotherapy, Phytopharmacology, Natural Product.