Evaluation of the subchronic toxicity of oral treatment with Chenopodium ambrosioides in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiaceae) have been used by native people to treat many diseases. Recently, we showed that the treatment with small dose (5mg/kg) of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) from Chenopodium ambrosioides' leaves has immunestimulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the subchronic toxicity of the oral treatment with this HE in preclinical assays.


METHODS
Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10/group). They received the HE daily at the doses of 5, 50 and 500 mg/kg by gavage during 15 days. The control group received only water. They were observed each hour for 24h and each day for 15 days, when the blood was collected. The serum was used to perform the biochemical analysis. The mice were then killed and the vital and lymphoid organs were collected and evaluated.


RESULTS
There was neither death nor alterations in the body weight in the HE-treated groups, but there were alterations in the weight of some organs. There was an increase in the lymph node cells number in the highest two doses. The number of cells in the bone marrow was high in the HE-treated groups, but the number of peritoneal cells was smaller in the HE-treated groups when compared to the control. There was no alteration in the AST, but there was a reduction in the albumin levels in the HE500 group and in the triglycerides and VLDL in the highest doses.


CONCLUSIONS
The subchronic treatment with HE induced punctual alterations in the groups treated with the highest doses. However, the HE treatment was not lethal and did not induce toxic alterations using the therapeutic dose, suggesting that it is safe to use this product in the adequate dose.
Pereira
Wanderson S
WS
Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
Ribeiro
Bruno P
BP
Sousa
Anildes I P
AI
Serra
Izabel C P B
IC
Mattar
Nadia S
NS
Fortes
Thiare S
TS
Reis
Aramys S
AS
Silva
Lucilene A
LA
Barroqueiro
Elizabeth S B
ES
Guerra
Rosane N M
RN
Nascimento
Flávia R F
FR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D027464:Chenopodium ambrosioides / Q000633:toxicity*; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000418:Albumins; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases