Phytochemical screening and toxicity investigation of hydro-methanolic and aqueous extracts from aerial parts of Sonchus oleraceus L. in Swiss albino mice

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 509 - 528
• Main Authors: Aissani, Fatine, Grara, Nedjoud, Guelmamene, Rahma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01-06-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthraquinone; Bilirubin; Body weight; Cholesterol; Creatinine; Flavonoids; Hematology; Hepatitis; Kidneys; Low density lipoprotein; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mortality; Oncology; Original Article; Pathology; Phytochemicals; Polyphenols; Sonchus oleraceus; Sterols; Toxicity; Triterpenes; Phytochemical screening; LD; Subacute toxicity; Biochemical and hematological parameters; Acute toxicity
• ISSN: 1618-565X; 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-022-03349-x

Sonchus oleraceus L.
is a Mediterranean leafy vegetable. The aerial parts are widely used in Algerian traditional medicine to treat several diseases such as inflammation, hepatitis, and for detoxication. To date, there are no studies corroborating its toxicity profile. This work aimed to investigate the qualitative phytochemical screening (QPS) and to evaluate the toxicity of the hydro-methanolic (HME) and hot aqueous (HAE) extracts of the aerial parts of
S. oleraceus L.
in female mice. The QPS of both extracts was achieved using simple tests, as well as the acute and subacute toxicities were examined following Lorke’s method and OECD guidelines 407, respectively. The qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenes, anthraquinone glycoside, and reducing compounds in both extracts. The administered doses of the two extracts disclosed no mortality and no visible sign of toxicity. The LD
50
was estimated above 5 g/kg body weight. In the subacute test, the extracts did not induce neither mortality nor significant changes in body weight and relative organ weights. The data also revealed that HME leads to a disturbance in LDL, indirect bilirubin, while HAE caused a disorder in cholesterol, ALT, urea, creatinine, and total proteins levels. They caused as well a strong disturbance of hematological parameters. Histopathological examination showed an important hepatic, renal, and lung lesions up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. Our results showed that the two extracts may elicit toxic effects on the liver, kidney, and lung on prolonged administration.