Acute oral toxicity and hepatic responses to Paederia foetida leaf extract in Wistar rats

Paederia foetida is a medicinal plant widely used traditionally for digestive disorders, inflammatory conditions, and complaints associated with liver function. However, experimental toxicological data on concentrated extracts remain limited.

This study evaluated the acute oral toxicity and hepatic responses of ethanolic P. foetida leaf extract in Wistar rats.

Authenticated P. foetida leaves were extracted using 70% ethanol and phytochemically analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acute oral toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats using an experimental protocol informed by OECD Guideline 423 at doses of 400, 2,000, and 10,000 mg/kg body weight. Mortality, hematological and biochemical parameters, and liver histopathology were evaluated.

GC-MS analysis identified pyrone derivatives and lipid-related constituents in the extract. No mortality was observed at 400 mg/kg BW, while one animal died at both 2000 mg/kg and 10,000 mg/kg. Leukocyte counts increased from 8.54 ± 1.31 × 10³/μL in controls to 28.40 ± 3.69 × 10³/μL at 2000 mg/kg. Serum alanine aminotransferase increased from 38.67 ± 15.04 U/L in controls to 98.50 ± 15.50 U/L at 10,000 mg/kg. Histopathology showed minimal sinusoidal dilation at 400 mg/kg and mild-to-moderate hepatocellular degeneration with steatosis at higher doses, while overall hepatic architecture remained preserved.

Acute exposure to P. foetida leaf extract induced dose-associated hematological and hepatic responses at supratherapeutic doses, whereas lower doses produced minimal systemic alterations under the tested conditions. These findings provide experimental data on the phytochemical profile, acute toxicity pattern, and dose-associated hepatic responses of P. foetida leaf extract, contributing to the toxicological characterization of this ethnopharmacologically important species.