title: Subchronic toxicity of Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae) extract and p-synephrine in mice.
abstract: Extracts of Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae) unripe fruits have gained popularity for the treatment of obesity. Due to the wide use of C. aurantium/p-synephrine-containing products, this research was undertaken to evaluate its subchronic toxicity in mice and their actions in oxidative stress biomarkers. Groups of 9-10 mice received for 28 consecutive days a commercial C. aurantium dried extract (containing 7.5% p-synephrine) 400, 2000 or 4000 mg/kg and p-synephrine 30 or 300 mg/kg by oral gavage. There was a reduction in body weight gain of animals treated with both doses of p-synephrine. Organs relative weight, biochemical and hematological parameters were not altered in all treated mice. There was an increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in groups treated with C. aurantium 4000 mg/kg and p-synephrine 30 and 300 mg/kg. In glutathione peroxidase (GPx), there were an inhibition of the activity in C. aurantium 400 and 2000 mg/kg and p-synephrine 30 and 300 mg/kg treated animals, respectively, and was no alteration in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Thus, the results indicate a low subchronic toxicity of the tested materials in mice and a possible alteration in the oxidative metabolism. However, further tests are required to better elucidate the effects of these compounds in the antioxidant system.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises e Pesquisas Toxicológicas, Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752/605, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Dutra
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Arbo
authors.forename: Gabriela Cristina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Mariana Fagundes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Limberger
authors.forename: Mariele Feiffer
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Charão
authors.forename: Angela Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: Gianine Lima
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dallegrave
authors.forename: Solange Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Mirna Bainy
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Renata Pereira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Limberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013578:Synephrine / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D013578:Synephrine