Toxicity profile of <i>Mimosa pudica</i> hydro-ethanolic seed extract

Abstract

Mimosa pudica is a medicinal plant used in ethno-medicine for the treatment of diseases which include diabetes, pile, dysentery and inflammations. In the present study, the acute and sub-chronic toxicities of hydro-ethanolic seed extract of Mimosa pudica were investigated in Wistar rats. Acute (single administration of extract) and sub-chronic (daily administration of extract for 21 days) toxicities of the extract were screened in four groups of Wistar rats (5 rats per group). Control group was administered 10 ml distilled water/body weight (kg) whereas treatment groups were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg extract orally (p.o). At the end of the sub-chronic toxicity studies, the levels of biochemical parameters in liver homogenate [thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT)] and serum (creatinine, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), were determined.The result of acute toxicity studies showed that the extract up to 5000 mg/kg caused no mortality in rats (median lethal dose of the extract was ≥ 5000 mg/kg). In sub-chronic toxicity studies, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in TBARS levels when compared with the control, whereas the levels of GSH and CAT increased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared to the control. In conclusion, Mimosa pudica seeds are safe when taken acutely (p.o.) and it has no toxic effect in some biochemical parameters present in the liver and kidney when administered daily for 21 days in Wistar rats.

Keywords: Mimosa pudica, seeds, toxicity, liver, kidney, rats