Effect of Acute Exposure of Swiss Mice to Chlorogenic Acid

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in the diet. It has been shown to have a variety of potential health benefits and is also administered as a food supplement. However, the report on its safety assessment is sparse. This study is therefore designed to assess the effect of acute exposure to CGA. Forty-eight Swiss mice were weight-matched into eight groups (n = 6). Groups I and II received distilled water and 1% ethanol; Groups III–VIII received 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 and 1000 mg/kg doses of CGA, respectively. Twenty-four hours post-treatment, the liver and kidneys were excised and used for antioxidant assays and kidney and liver function tests. Sections were prepared for histology. Results showed that the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was significantly elevated at all the doses of CGA in the kidney and also in the liver. The liver function parameters were affected in the liver of mice treated with CGA. CGA variably affected potassium ion concentration at the different doses in the kidney. Results were complemented by the histology. CGA manifests a deleterious effect, as evidenced by the perturbations in some of the biochemical parameters in the liver at all the doses, and in particular from the 240 mg/kg dose.