Toxicity of Callilepis laureola

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Pharmacology
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• Callilepis laureola is a widely used herbal medicine.
• This plant has been linked to fatal liver necrosis in the Black population of Natal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the toxic compounds in Callilepis laureola.
• To investigate the cause of its adverse effects, particularly liver necrosis.

Main Methods:

• Chemical extraction from Callilepis laureola.
• Identification of extracted compounds using analytical techniques.

Main Results:

• Atractyloside was isolated and identified from the plant extract.
• Atractyloside was found to be responsible for the nephrotoxic (kidney-damaging) and hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar) effects.
• The specific compound causing hepatotoxicity (liver damage) has not yet been isolated.

Conclusions:

• Atractyloside is a significant toxic component of Callilepis laureola, causing kidney and blood sugar issues.
• Further research is needed to isolate and identify the hepatotoxic principle responsible for liver necrosis.