Abstract

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the safety of an aqueous extract ofMorinda citrifolia leaves (AEMC) by determining its potential toxicity after acute administration (5 g/kg) in rodents and cytotoxic studies. General behavior adverse effects and mortality were determined for up to 14 days. Biochemical and hematological parameters were determined after 14 days. Cytotoxic effects of the AEMC were determined by spectrophotometric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (at concentration of 0.05 to 25 mg/ml). The results showed that in the acute study in rats, the AEMC did not cause general behavior adverse effects and mortality. Also, AEMC did not show any cytotoxic effect at 0.05 to 12.5 mg/ml, only at 25 mg/ml. The AEMC does not appear to have significant toxicity.

Key words: Morinda citrifolia, cytotoxicity, acute toxicity.

Abbreviation

AEMC, aqueous extract of Morinda citrifolia; MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMEM, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium; PBS, phosphate buffer saline; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid; AST, aspartate amino transferase;ALT, alanine amino transferase; GGT, Gamma-glutamyltransferase; TBil, total billirubin, DBil, direct bilirubin; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBA, thiobarbituric acid; MDA, malondialdehyde; TCA–BHT, trichloro acetic acid – butyl hydroxyl toluene; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; ROS, reactive oxygen species.