Effects of aqueous extract of onion on the liver and lung of rats.
The toxic effects of oral and intraperitoneal administration of onion extracts on lung and liver tissue of rats were investigated. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of low doses of onion (50 mg/kg) to rats had little effect on lung and liver tissues when compared to control animals. In contrast, administration of high doses of onion (500 mg/kg) resulted in apparent histological changes in lung and liver tissues of rats. Intraperitoneal administration of the high dose of onion was more damaging to lung and liver tissue than oral administration and resulted in a 25% rate of mortality in this treatment group. These results suggest that low doses of onion are nontoxic and may be administered with few ill effects.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat. martha@kuc01.kuniv.edu.kw
M
M
Thomson
M A
MA
Alnaqeeb
T
T
Bordia
J M
JM
Al-Hassan
M
M
Afzal
M
M
Ali
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019697:Onions / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D001798:Blood Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts