Antioxidant and toxicological effects of crude extracts from calotropisprocera leaves

Abstract

Many plants and plant parts have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, yet their possible toxic effects associated with their use have not been studied. In this study, we tested the in vitro antioxidant ability of Calotropisprocera leaf extracts by β-carotene bleaching assay, ferric reducing assay andhydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. Methanolic extracts of the leaf showed the highest potency. The toxicity of the methanolic extract was tested in albino rats. All the concentrations administered to the rats showed acute and subacute toxicity manifested by hair and weight loss, sluggishness and significant elevation in serum activities of glutamate oxaloacete transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, alanin aminotransferase and serum bilirubin level relative to a control group. These results indicate that, though the crude extracts contain antioxidant factors, they also contain plant toxins that may be injurious when consumed