Short-term Toxicity Studies of Eupatorium adenophorum in Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Four groups of Swiss albino mice (male) were administered with vehicle (refined vegetable oil), 1/20^th, 1/10^th and 1/5^th of LD    doses of methanolic extract of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng ; respectively for a period of 21 days. Mice fed with methanolic extract of Eupatorium adenophorum at a dose level of 752.2 mg/kg (i.e. 1/5^th LD ) elicited hepatotoxicity and the animals had yellow discoloration of liver, subcutaneous tissue and musculature indicating jaundice. The sera samples revealed marked increase in bilirubin levels and activities of alkaline phos- phatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST). Histopathology of the livers of the group IV animals had focal areas of necrosis and bile duct proliferation. Elevation in plasma bilirubin concomitant with alterations in enzyme profile and histopathological lesions are consistent with liver injury and cholestasis.