title: Toxicity effects of water extracts of Holothuria atra Jaeger in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine lethal median dose (LD50) and histopathological toxicity of water extract of Holothuria atra (H. atra) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The behavioral changes, mortality and histopathology examination on liver were assessed in mice 14 d after the administration (i.p.) of H. atra water extract. Seven doses (10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) of H. atra were used. The control group was treated with normal saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the acute study in mice, the water extracts of H. atra caused dose-dependent general behavior adverse affects and mortality. The main behavioral sign of toxicity was hypoactivity, noticed immediately after administration of the extract which was more obvious at the higher doses and persisted until death. Mortality increased with increasing doses, the calculated LD50 was 41 mg/kg in mice. The liver toxicity was confirmed by histopathological examination, which indicated the presence of abnormal hepatocytes with a distorted shape and undefined cell lining as well as enlarged nuclei in low doses groups. High doses groups indicated a more prominent distortion of the polyhedral hepatocytes with undefined cell lining, massive cytoplasm, pyknotic, karyorhexis and karyolytic nuclei (necrosis of hepatocytes). Control group showed polyhedral hepatocytes with defined cell lining arranged in cords and normal round nuclei, with granular cytoplasm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the relatively low LD50 value in the acute study in mice, it may be concluded that the H. atra water extract is toxic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota 10, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ridzwan Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota 10, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nurul Alia
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Azizan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota 10, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zaitunnatakin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zamli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota 10, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Farah Hanis
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Zulkipli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan Campus, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota 10, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nurzafirah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mazlan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Alzaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Osama Yousef
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Althunibat
keywords: Animal toxicity; Holothuria atra; Lethal median dose; Water extract