Acute and subacute toxicity profiles of methanol extract of Rhamnus prinoides L'Hér in Sprague Dawley rats

In folkloric medicine, Rhamnus prinoides is used to treat a variety of ailments. Nevertheless, there was a dearth of scientific evidence regarding its potential toxicity to consumers. This study determined the acute and subacute toxicity profiles of R. prinoides methanol extract in rats. In the acute assay, a single dose of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) of the extract was administered, and then the animals were monitored for 14 days for signs of toxicity, abnormal behavior, and mortality. In the subacute toxicity assay, the rats received the extract at 300, 520, and 900 mg/kg bw for 28 days. On day 29, the rats were euthanized, and blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Organs were also excised and wet-weighed, and then histopathological examinations were conducted on the liver and kidneys. The extract did not induce toxicity signs, abnormal behaviors, or fatalities after a single-dose exposure. Thus, the LD 50 of the extract exceeded 2000 mg/kg bw. The extract at 300, 520, and 900 mg/kg bw did not significantly affect the body weights, organ weights, and hematological and biochemical indices compared to normal control (p > 0.05), except for body weights, hemoglobin, and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05) in rats that received the extract at 900 mg/kg bw. Some necrosis was noticeable in liver histology in rats that received 900 mg/kg bw. In conclusion, the extract was safe upon a single-dose exposure. However, the extract at 900 mg/kg bw could be toxic to the liver upon 28-day exposure.