Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract in female mice and rats

Toxicol Lett. 1998 May;95(3):183-93. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4274(98)00035-6.

Abstract

Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract was studied in female Swiss mice and Wistar rats fed turmeric (0, 1 and 5%) and ethanolic turmeric extract (0, 0.05 and 0.25%) through diet for 14 and/or 90 days. The administration of a high dose of turmeric (5%) for longer duration (90 days) showed a significant reduction in body weight gain, alterations in absolute and/or relative liver weights, and hepatotoxicity i.e. focal necrosis or focal necrosis with regeneration both in mice and rats. In mice lower doses of turmeric i.e 0.2 or 1% for 14 days also showed hepatotoxicity and they were found to be more vulnerable to turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity than rats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Mice
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Species Specificity
  • Spices / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Plant Extracts
  • DNA