Objective: To examine the acute toxicity of an aqueous extract of Aspidopterys obcordata (A. obcordata) in Sprague Dawley rats.
Methods: The rats were orally administered a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight and observed continuously for 6 h and then daily for 14 days. Control rats were administered distilled water. The effect of the extract on general behavior, body weight, and food and water intake were measured. After 14 days, the rats were sacrificed and their organs (liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidney, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes) were removed for macroscopic examination. The body and organ weights in addition to hematology (e.g., hemoglobin and white blood cell counts) and clinical blood biochemistry (e.g., albumin and bilirubin) were also examined.
Results: There were no deaths recorded, and the rats treated with A. obcordata showed no signs of toxicity. All measured parameters in rats treated with A. obcordata were unaffected when compared with those in control rats. The acute toxicity (LD50) was estimated to be > 5000 mg/kg body weight.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the safety of an acute oral administration of an aqueous extract of A. obcordata in rats and indicate that future subacute and long-term toxicity testing of A. obcordata is warranted.