title: Genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and  toxicological evaluation of whole plant extracts of the medicinal plant Phyllanthus niruri  (Phyllanthaceae).
abstract: Phyllanthus  niruri is a medicinal plant (commonly known as stone breaker)  found in the tropics and other parts of the world. It is known for its capacity  to block the formation of calcium oxalate crystals and kidney stone formation  in urolithiasis. This plant has been used to treat hyperglycemia, hypertension,  pain, and mild cases of malaria. We examined the geno-, cyto- and overall  toxicity of P. niruri whole plant ethanolic extract. The extract was  administered as a single dose of 30 or 300 mg/kg to laboratory rats by gavage,  accompanied by negative (0.9% saline) and positive (10 mg/mL N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea)  controls that were injected intramuscularly 48 h after extract administration.  The ratio of polychromatic (PCE)/normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) from femur  bone marrow was scored for genotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was determined using  descending concentrations (0.2-0.0125 g/mL) of the extract incubated with  peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Lactate dehydrogenase release from damaged  cells was determined and the CC(50) calculated.  Subchronic administration of the extract at 30 or 300 mg/kg was done for 90  days to determine general toxicity. PCE:NCE (%) for the extract and negative  control was 63, compared to 168 (positive control). The CC(50) was  26.3 mg/mL and hepato-renal toxicity after subchronic extract administration  was nil. We conclude that ethanol extract of P. niruri is not cytotoxic  or genotoxic, and is generally non-toxic on subchronic administration.
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. gasare@chs.edu.gh
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bugyei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sittie
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Yahaya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gyan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Addo
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wiredu
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nyarko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase