title: Evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity and mutagenic activity of the aqueous extract of pecan shells [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch].
abstract: The infusion of pecan shells has been used to prevent and control hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and toxicological diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate toxicity and mutagenic effects of pecan shells aqueous extract (PSAE). Wistar rats were treated with a single dose of 300 or 2000 mg/kg of PSAE in the acute toxicity test. For the subacute test, the animals received 10 or 100 mg/kg of PSAE for 28 days. The mutagenicity was evaluated using Salmonella/microsome assay in TA1535, TA1537, TA98, TA100 and TA102 S. typhimurium strains in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) and micronucleus test in bone marrow. HPLC analyses indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoids, gallic and ellagic acids. Except for triglycerides, all treated groups presented normal hematological and biochemical parameters. Lower levels of triglycerides and weight loss were observed in the 100 mg/kg group. Mutagenic activities were not detected in S. typhimurium strains and by the micronucleus test. Based on these results, PSAE was not able to induce chromosomal or point mutations, under the conditions tested. The 100mg/kg dose showed significant antihyperlipidemic action, with no severe toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Universidade da Região da Campanha (URCAMP), São Borja, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos Santos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Alexandre de Barros Falcão
authors.initials: Ade B
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Dione Silva
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Marcela Silva
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Caroline Dalla Lana
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Jaqueline Nascimento
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Picada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001711:Biotransformation; D001938:Brazil; D031325:Carya / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013499:Surface Properties; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Carya illinoinensis; Ellagic acid; Gallic acid; Micronucleus test; Pecan shell; Salmonella/microsome assay