title: Acute and chronic toxicities of Bacopa monnieri extract in Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacopa monnieri is a medicinal plant which has long been used in Ayurvedic medicines to augment brain function and to improve memory. The purpose of our study was to identify and evaluate possible toxic effects of B. monnieri extract in rats by assessing hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute oral toxicity of Bacopa monnieri extract was studied in female rats by giving a single orally administered dose at a level of 5,000 mg/kg. The rats were monitored for toxic signs for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity test, groups of both female and male rats were given daily oral doses of B. monnieri extract at dose levels of either 30, 60, 300 or 1,500 mg/kg for 270 days. The behavior and health of the animals was then monitored. At the end of the observation period, the body and organ weights of the rats in each group were measured. Blood was collected and necropsy was performed to evaluate their hematology, blood clinical chemistry, and microanatomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute toxicity test found no significant differences between the experimental and the control group rats. In the chronic toxicity test, animal behavior and health of the experimental groups were normal, just as in the control rats. All values of other parameters assessed remained within the normal range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single oral administration of B. monnieri extract at the dose of 5,000 mg/kg did not cause any serious undesirable effects. B. monnieri extract at doses of 30, 60, 300 and 1,500 mg/kg given for 270 days did not produce any toxicity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. seewaboon@gmail.com.|Division of Pharmacology, Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand. seewaboon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seewaboon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sireeratawong
authors.affiliation: McCormick Faculty of Nursing, Payap University, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kanjana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaijoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: Parirat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khonsung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nirush
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lertprasertsuk
authors.affiliation: Bioscreening Unit, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kornkanok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ingkaninan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Acute toxicity; Bacopa monnieri; Chronic toxicity