Acute and Sub-Acute Oral Toxicity Profile of Purified Tomato Extract on the Liver and Kidney Functions of Male Wistar Rats

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i11.12

Abstract

The pharmacological properties of lycopene-containing extracts are numerous. Purified tomato extract (PTE) is a lycopene-rich extract with a wide range of pharmacological properties; however, toxicity testing is required to examine the potential risks associated with the constituent chemicals. This study was conducted to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicities of PTE on the liver and kidney functions of Wistar rats. PTE was obtained by extracting tomatoes using a solvent mixture of n-hexane: acetone: ethanol (1:1:2) and the solvent was then evaporated. For the acute toxicity testing, the rats were divided into two groups: normal control and PTE (750 mg/kg b.w.) treatment groups. The rats were observed for seven days for bodyweight and physiological changes (stool, activity, tremor, and coma), as well as death. In the sub-chronic toxicity testing, the rats were divided into five groups: normal control, PTE (50, 100, or 150 mg/kg b.w.) treatment, and negative control groups. The rats were observed for 28 days for bodyweight changes. Also, the serum urea, creatinine, aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase levels were determined. There were no significant differences in the body weight between the normal control and PTE treatment groups, which were 182.85 ± 6.36 g and 184.28 ± 6.72 g, respectively. A similar result was obtained for the physiological conditions which included normal stool, principal activity, no tremor, no coma, as well as no deaths in both groups. The sub-chronic study results showed that PTE was safe. The administration of a single dose of PTE for 28 days did not cause any damage.