124

Toxicity Studies onAlpinia galanga and Curcuma longa £ Qureshi', A. H. Shah2'3, andA. M. Ageel' 1

2

Research Centre, College of Pharmacy, P.O.Box 2457. King Saud University, Riyadh-11451, Saudi Arabia Central Laboratory for Drug and Food Analysis, M.O.H., P.D.Box 59082, Riyadh-1 1525, Saudi Arabia

Address for correspondence

Abstract Acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanolic extracts of the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga and Curcurna longa were carried out

in mice. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0, and 3g/kg body weight while the chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg/day as the extract. All external morphological, hematological, and spermatogenic changes, in addition to body weight and vital organ weights were recorded. During this investigation no significant mortality as compared to the controls vas observed. The weight gain in the A. galanga treated animals was significant as in the control group while the C. longa-treated animals gained no significant

weight after chronic treatment. C. longa treatment induced significant changes in heart and lungs weights upon chronic treatment. Hematological studies revealed a significant rise in the RBC level of A. galanga-treated animals and a significant fall in the WBC and RBC levels of the C. longa-treated animals as compared to the controls. The gain in weights of sexual organs and increased sperm motility and sperm counts were observed in both

groups of extract-treated male mice, however, these changes were highly significant in the A. galangatreated group. Both extracts failed to show any spermatotoxic effects.

Key words

Alpinia galanga. Curcuma longa, acute

oral toxicity, chronic oral toxicity.

Introduction A large number of plants belonging to the Zingiberaceae are used in the traditional medicine of certain countries where several are consumed as condiment and spices (1—6). Two such commonly used plants, namely Alpinia galanga Willd. and Curcuma longa L. (7), were selected for the present study. The parts used in this study and various medicinal properties attributed to these plants are given in Table 1. Recent studies confirmed that the rhizomes of A. galanga possessed significant anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and anticalculi activities (8, 9) while C.

longa rhizomes were found to be a potent antihepatotoxic, anticancer, and antiulcer drug (10—12). The rhizomes of both plants are also known to illicit positive effects on the cardiovascular system (13). Although much work has been done on the pharmacological properties and chemical composition of these herbal drugs, only limited data are availa-

ble in the literature on their toxicity or side-effects that might ensure the safe use of these medicinally important plants. In continuation of our work (14), the acute and chronic toxicities of these plants in mice were evaluated in this study.

Materials and Methods Plant materials Authenticated plants collected from the local market were used in the present study and herbarium specimens were submitted to the College of Pharmacy, King Saud University for record. The rhizomes of both plants were separately ground and extracted with 95% ethanol. The solvent was then evaporated at low pressure to obtain the semi-solid residues used in the present study.

Animal stock Swiss albino mice (SWR) of either sex, aged 6—7

weeks, weighing 25—30g (home bred) were used. The animals were fed on Purina Chow diet with free access to water under standard conditions of light (12h light, 12h dark), humidity, and temperature.

Acute toxicity A total of 35 mice were randomly alloted to the different control and test groups (5 animals each). The extract in each case was suspended in water and administered orally in three doses viz. 0.5 g/kg, 1 g/kg, and 3 g/kg body weight. The general symptoms of toxicity and mortality were recorded for 24 h in the manner of Shah et al. (15).

Chronic toxicity A total of 30 male and 30 female mice were ran-

domly alloted to the control and two different extract-treated groups. The extract in each case was given in drinking water. The dose selected was 100 mg/kg/day which is 1/5 of the pharmacologically active dose (16). The treatment was continued for a period of 3 months (17). The animals were observed for all external general symptoms of toxicity, body weight changes, and mortality. The average pre- and post-treatment body weights, vital organ weights, and viscera of the chronically-treated animals were compared with

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Received: April 17, 1991

Planta Med. 58(1992) 125

Toxicity Studies on Alpinia galanga and Curcuma longa Extract

A/pin/a galanga WilId. (Zingiberaceae)

rhizome

Curcuma longa L.

rhizome

(Family)

Uses

References

6.1

Used forthe treatment of some inflammatory conditions, as anticalculi, anticancer, digestive, spleen and liver tonic, in dyspepsia, gastralgia, chronic enteritis, sea sickness, and in abdominal colic.

(3), (4), (8), (9), (23).

5.3

Used as stomachic, carminative, treat(3), (5), (10), ment of rheumatism, inflammatory and (12), (33). ulcerative conditions, antiulcer, antioxidant, antihepatotoxic, liver tonic, remedy for jaundice and cough.

Table 1 Medicinal uses of the plants under Investigation for present toxicity studies.

yield (%)

(Zingiberaceae)

those of the control group. The blood was analyzed for WBC, RBC, and hemoglobin using a Contraves Digicell 3100H (Zurich). The

chronically-treated male animals were also analyzed for spermatogenic dysfunction using the sperm abnormality test, which is

considered to be a reliable parameter for assessing germ cell mutagenicity and carcinogenicity (18). The caudae epididymides and vas deferens from the same animals were dissected out and

transferred to a centrifuge tube containing 3 ml Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer as described earlier (19). The sperm suspension

mesh to remove tissue fragments was filtered through an 80 and 0.5 ml of 1 % eosin Y was added to each tube. The contents were thoroughly mixed and the slides were made by placing one

Table 2 Quantitative data on the mortality induced in mice by chronic oral treatment with extracts of A/pin/a ga/anga and Curcuma longa.

No.of

Treatment

Mortalityduringtreatment Total

mice (100 mg/kg/day treated and dose

dead animals

in days

30

60

90

0

0

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

Percent

lethality

for 3 months)

20 20 20

Control A.ga/anga C./onga

2 3 5

10

15 25

P> 0.05 (Chi square test); 10 male and 10 female mice were used in each group.

drop of the solution on a slide and spread by three passes of another slide. Coded slides were examined for the following abnormalities

of the sperm head: amorphous, flat head, microcephali, megace-

phali, and swollen achrosome (20). The different parameters studied were subjected to statistical analyses by the Chi square test or the Student's t test.

Results and Discussion

Table 3 Quantitative data on the body weight of mice treated with ethanol extracts of Alp/n/a galanga and Gurcuma longa.

Treatment and dose

Pretreatment

Posttreatment'

(100 mg/kg/day

(average body weight

(average body weight

for 3 months)

In the acute toxicity test A. galanga-treated animals exhibited no signs of toxicity and no mortality was

observed up to the 3 g/kg dose level. The results of the chronic toxicity studies are summarized in Tables 2—7. During chronic treatment with A. galanga extract, one male mouse initially developed a fore-limb inflammation while the rest of the male and female mice were healthy till end of

the treatment. During chronic treatment, the mortality in the test group was not significant as compared to the control. There was a significant weight gain in the test as well as in the control groups. At the end of the treatment, the average weights of the vital organs and condition of the vis-

cera were normal and comparable to the control. The hematological studies revealed a significant rise in the RBC level of the A. galanga-treated animals. This altered red cell production may be attributed to the constituents ofthe plant which may influence the androgen level in the body. During our earlier experiments, several plants were found to affect

serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels (21).

Control A.galanga C. longa

for 3 months)

Control A.ga/anga C. /onga

27.4 0.3

33.2 0.5'

26.6 26.5

31.3

1.5*

29.4

1.4

1.0 1.2

P< 0.05," P

Toxicity studies on Alpinia galanga and Curcuma longa.

Acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanolic extracts of the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga and Curcuma longa were carried o...
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