ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF LAPORTEA DECUMANA LEAF EXTRACT IN RATS

Laportea decumana is an Indonesian endemic plant with many therapeutic activities, but the toxicity of L. decumana leaf extract is still not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the acute and subacute toxicity of L. decumana leaf extract (LDE) on serum biochemistry, haematology and urinary profiles, as well as histopathological features. The acute toxicity test was conducted using a single oral administration of LDE at doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. The subacute toxicity test was based on repeated doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight per day, respectively, for 28 days. The signs of toxicity, body weight, amount of food and water consumed, relative organ weights, serum and urinary parameters, and histopathology were registered. No mortality was found with 2000 and 5000 mg/kg in the acute toxicity test. However, at 5000 mg/kg, LDE led to polyuria and polydipsia, significantly reduced food intake, and increased stomach-relative weight. In the subacute toxicity test, daily administration of LDE led to histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, and stomach. The results suggest that LDE had an LD50 higher than 5000 mg/kg, yet it showed several signs of toxicity. Meanwhile, daily doses of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg produced toxic effects in some organs. We suggest that the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of LDE was under 250 mg/kg per day since mild lipid degeneration and inflammation were still found in the liver of rats treated with the lowest dose.