Evaluation of toxicity after one-months treatment with Bauhinia forficata decoction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
BACKGROUND
Previous experiments have shown that a decoction of Bauhinia forficata leaves reduces the changes in carbohydrate and protein metabolism that occur in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In the present investigation, the serum activities of enzymes known to be reliable toxicity markers were monitored in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats to discover whether the use of B. forficata decoction has toxic effects on liver, muscle or pancreas tissue or on renal microcirculation.


METHODS
An experimental group of normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats received an aqueous decoction of fresh B. forficata leaves (150 g/L) by mouth for 33 days while a control group of normal and diabetic rats received water for the same length of time. The serum activity of the toxicity markers lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, amylase, angiotensin-converting enzyme and bilirubin were assayed before receiving B. forficata decoction and on day 19 and 33 of treatment.


RESULTS
The toxicity markers in normal and diabetic rats were not altered by the diabetes itself nor by treatment with decoction. Whether or not they received B. forficata decoction the normal rats showed a significant increase in serum amylase activity during the experimental period while there was a tendency for the diabetic rats, both treated and untreated with decoction, to have lower serum amylase activities than the normal rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of an aqueous decoction of B. forficata is a potential treatment for diabetes and does not produce toxic effects measurable with the enzyme markers used in our study.
Pepato
Maria Teresa
MT
Department of Clinical Analyses, Araraquara School of Pharmacy, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil. pepatomt@fcfar.unesp.br
Baviera
Amanda Martins
AM
Vendramini
Regina Célia
RC
Brunetti
Iguatemy Lourenço
IL
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D036481:Bauhinia / Q000633:toxicity*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic
D013311:Streptozocin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000681:Amylases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D001663:Bilirubin