Toxicity Assessment of Sesbania sesban var. bicolor a Traditionally used Anthelmintic Medicinal Plant, in Rodent Models

Abstract

Sesbania sesban var. bicolor, a tropical shrub,is a medicinal plant in India. This assessment reports the toxic potentials of its leaf extract. Acute oral toxicity was executed in mice whereas sub-acute toxicity was carried out using rodent models. The study showed that the median lethal dose was over than 5000 mg/kg. Toxicity assessments displayed a mild increase in neutrophils and a mild decrease in eosinophil and monocyte counts in rats. Also, the SGOT and SGPT levels were found to be raised, indicating evidence of hepatotoxicity. The mitochondria of kidney and liver tissues studied by transmission electron microscopy revealed damage in the cristae and membrane. Together, it may be concluded that S. sesban var. bicolor extract possesses mild toxicity in experimental animals. Therefore, despite its efficacy in traditional medicine, the long-term use of this plant should be controlled.