Evaluation of acute toxicity of polyphenols and polysaccharides extracts from Centaurea cyanus L.

Abstract

Introduction: Centaurea cyanus L. is one of the species of Asteraceae family. It is an annual plant, growing as a weed in the fields. It is also used as ornamental plant due to its intense blue flowers. Cornflower has a long history of herbal use. The officinal vegetal product is Cyani /lores. Externally it is used as anti-inflammatory and astringent for eye ailments and skin cleansing.The dried flowers have antipruritic, antitussive, weakly diuretic, emmenagogue, ophtalmic. very mildy purgative, and tonic properties. According to our investigations aerial parts of C. Cyanus L. are an incontestable source of many phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. Pharmacological studies pointed out strong anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective effect of the Cyani herba selective extracts. Purpose and objectives of this study was to test the acute toxicity of polyphenols and polysaccharides extracts from Cyani herbain on mice. Material and methods: The polyphenols extract from Cyani herbawas obtained by direct extraction with 60% aqueous ethanol and the polysaccharides one - with distilled water at 90°C. The total polyphenols and polysaccharides contents were determined in both extracts. Acute toxicity was evaluated in 84 mice (42 male and 42 female), weighing 18-26 g. Each extract was dissolved in constant volume of NaCl 0.9% (0.4-1 ml by oral route using intragastric syringe, and 0.2-0.5 ml - intraperitoneally). Initially animals were given 50, 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of the extracts respectively, to possibly establish the range of doses producing any toxic effect. The animals were observed continuously for 7 days for any gross change in behavioural, neurological, autonomic profiles and mortality in each group.vSubsequently 500, 2000, 4000 mg/kg b.w. of the extracts were administrated. Mice were sampled after mortality for histopatho logical analyses o f the selected tissues. The statistical analyses were carried out using Kurber’s and Prozorovschi’s methods. Results: The acute lethal study of Cyani herba extracts in mice shows that enteral LDo was 4000 mg/kg b.w. LD 25%, LD 50%, and LD 100% haven’t been established. Using intraperitoneal route LDo for both extracts was 250 mg/kg b.w. Intraperitoneal LD 17% for polyphenols extract was determined at 500, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg b.w. Intraperitoneal LD 34% for polysaccharides extract was established at 2000 and 4000 mg/kg b.w. Conclusion: The obtained LDo value classifies the studied plant extracts as slightly toxic. The results suggest that the polyphenols and polysaccharides extracts of the aerial parts of Centaurea cyanus L. is relatively safe toxicologically when administrated orally and intraperitoneally.