Toxicity Assessment of Ethanol Extract of Lygodium microphyllum

Abstract

Lygodium microphyllum is an invasive plant with various pharmacological activities, but
information on its toxicity is limited. Therefore, this study aims to determine the toxic effects of
acute oral administration of- ethanol extract of Lygodium microphyllum (ELM) in mice. Female
mice (n = 30) were divided into six groups, namely; Negative control (KN), ELM 1 (300 mg/kg
BW), ELM 2 (625 mg/kg BW), ELM 3 (1250 mg/kg BW), ELM 4 (2500 mg/kg BW), and ELM
5 (5000 mg/kg BW). ELM was administered as a single oral dose. The number of deaths, and
signs of toxicity were observed at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 min, then every 24 h for 14 days. Body
weights were measured every 2 days for 14 days. On day 15, the mice were sacrificed and vital
organs were harvested for the measurement of organ index. Histological examination of the liver
was done according to standard procedure. No death and no sign of toxicity was recorded in the
mice within 14 days following ELM administeration. The body weights of the mice did not
change significantly (p > 0.05) after ELM administeration. There were no significant differences
in the relative organ indices of the kidneys, stomach, heart, lungs, brain, intestines, and liver
among the various groups. Histological examination of the liver showed mild to moderate
changes in liver architecture following treatment with ELM. Overall, ELM may be regarded as
practically non-toxic (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg BW), and relatively safe on acute oral administration.