title: Toxicological evaluation of hydroethanolic extract of Helicteres sacarolha A. St.- Hil. et al.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicteres sacarolha, popularly known in Brazil as 'rosquinha', 'sacarolhas', 'semente-de-macaco', is widely distributed in different phytogeographic zones in Brazil. Preparations from its roots and leaves are employed in popular Brazilian medicine in the treatments of ailments such as peptic ulcer, hypertension among others. Cytotoxicity, acute oral and subchronic toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of Helicteres sacrolha was investigated as well as the classes of phytochemical present in the extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydroethanolic (70%) extract of Helicteres sacarolha (HEHs) was prepared by maceration. Potential cytotoxicity was evaluated in CHO-k1 cells. Acute administration of HEHs was done in mice as a single dose up to 5000mg/kg and subchronic oral toxicity study for 30 days in Wistar rats at daily oral doses of 0, 250 and 750mg/kg b.w. Clinical observations and toxicological related parameters were determined every 6 days. Blood was collected for biochemical and hematological analyses, while histological examinations were performed on selected organs. Selected secondary metabolites detected were quantified by UV-spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract was non-cytotoxic to CHO-k1 cells. In acute oral toxicity, there was no mortality or clinical alterations in the female mice, at all doses, except for the transient diarrhea observed at 5000mg/kg acute. Doses up to 2000mg/kg caused no mortality or treatment-related clinical manifestations in the male mice, but treatment-related alterations were however observed at 4000mg/kg, with mortalities recorded at 5000mg/kg. During the subchronic oral toxicity study, no mortality or treatment-related clinical signs were observed. Differences in relative organ weight, hematological parameters and histopathology observations between the treated and the control groups were considered not to be treatment-related. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed the presence of relatively high content of phenolics and flavonoids in HEHs. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of the quantified compounds and demonstrated the presence of ellagic acid, morin and naringin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirmed that HEHs have a broad safety margin for therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences in Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sikiru Olaitan
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences in Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iberê Ferreira
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson Moleta
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Colodel
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences in Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruberlei Godinho
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Av. NS15, BALA Block,11 C Room, Palmas 77020-210, Tocantins, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Donizeti
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ascêncio
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences in Health, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: taba@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Domingos Tabajara de Oliveira
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D016466:CHO Cells; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019660:Malvaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Acute and subchronic toxicities; Helicteres sacarolha; Rodents; Total flavonoids and phenolics