The use of herbal medicinal products has increased tremendously over the past three decades with not less than 80% of people worldwide, both in developed and developing countries relying on herbal medicine as the main source of healthcare. It is believed that herbal medicine, being a natural product, is inherently safe without side effects, and its efficacy can be obtained in various doses. Herbal medicine is not entirely safe from toxic possibilities and side effects. The side effects it may cause come from the herbal medicine consumption, such as indications, long-term consumption, contaminated product; or the possibility of herbal medicine interaction. To confirm the safe consumption of herbal medicine is by determining its efficacy and toxicity.
Safety testing of the chemical drug is essential in the development of medicine to ensure the highest level of safety before being produced and consumed by patients. One of the plants that have proven antimalarial activity is the Ramayana leaf (Cassia spectabilis) which helps inhibit the parasite growth that causes malaria. There has not been any information regarding the safety of the plant, either in the treatment of diseases in general or as an antimalarial in specific. There is no information regarding the safety of using this plant, either in the treatment of diseases in general or specifically as an antimalarial. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential side effects or toxicity of the 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis before being developed as a source of new antimalarial active compound.
Initial information regarding the safety of a medicinal plant chemical is gained from acute toxicity testing and/or repeated doses for 28 days (subacute). In the subacute toxicity test, a daily oral dose of 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis on mice to 5.000mg/kg dose did not cause death, suggesting that the extract is not toxic. However, the subacute toxicity test reported, that giving 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis for one level dose per day for 28 days did not cause a significant change in the mice’s movement activity. The morphology and histology examinations show no major difference between the liver and kidney of the mice given the extract compared to the healthy control group. This suggests that the extract is safe for long-term consumption.
Apart from the acute toxicity test, histopathological and hematological examinations regarding the effect of 90% ethanolic extract of Cassia spectabilis DC on the liver and kidney functions of mice had also conducted. The liver has an important role in the stage of hepatic of the malaria parasite life cycle where the sporozoites developed into merozoites, enter the bloodstream and start the erythrocytic stage. An ultrastructural study reported the relations between the high amount of parasitized red blood cells in the liver of malaria patients, jaundice, hepatomegaly, and elevated liver enzymes. The previous research reported the extract on malaria parasite-infected animals were still able to repair the anomaly to some extent, suggesting that the extract may be hepatoprotective. In accordance with the research, 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis can repair necrotic and degraded liver cells, followed by a decreasing amount of plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in mice. This result suggested that the extract improves liver function. Besides, the therapeutic effect on malaria parasite infected-mice kidney cells is not much different from the chloroquine effect in reducing kidney damage.
Generally, 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis proves to be non-toxic and does not show any side effects. The extract also helps repair the liver and kidney functions of infected mice, similar to chloroquine. This result suggests that 90% ethanol extract of Cassia spectabilis is an ideal candidate to be developed as a new antimalaria active compound.
Author: Wiwied Ekasari
Journal Title: Toxicological Evaluation and Protective Effects of Ethanolic Leaf
Extract of Cassia spectabilis DC on Liver and Kidney Function of
Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice
