Histopathological and Serum Biochemical Changes Following Oral Administration of Aqueous Crude Extracts of Hyptis suaveolens, Urena lobata and Cleome viscosa in Rats

Abstract

The toxic effects of three plants Cleome viscosa, Hyptis suaveolens and Urena lobata on serum biochemical parameters and histopathology were studied in albino rats using crude aqueous extracts of the leaves of the plants for 28 days. The analysis of serum biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino -transferase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP) bilirubin, total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and triglycerides (TGC) of the rats treated with Urena lobata Cleome viscosa did not show any significant increase in the parameters except the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of the rats. The BUN and GGT of the rats administered with Hyptis suaveolens were increased significantly (P Cleome viscosa showed kidneys with generalized nephrosis of the tubular epithelial cells, lungs with severe emphysema and adrenal gland with hemosiderosis, thus the effect of Cleome viscosa may mean it is nephrotoxic. The organs of the rats treated with Hyptis suaveolens showed liver with peri-hepatic accumulation of proteineous material, kidneys with diffused area of nephrosis of tubular epithelial cells. These observations along with the increases in BUN, and GGT produced by extracts of Hyptis suaveolens may suggest that the plant is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic in rats. Key Words: Cleome viscosa, Hyptis suaveolens, Urena lobata, biochemical, histopathology, rats, toxicity. Trop. Vet. Vol.22: (1) 12-18 (2004)