Experimental Rhazya stricta toxicosis in rats

Saudi Rhazya stricta is used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of various disorders. R stricta leaves were fed to male Wistar albino rats at 2%, 10% or 50% of the diet for 6 w. Decreased growth rate, soft feces, dullness, ruffled hair and hepatonephrotoxicity were observed in rats on 10% and 50% Rhazya diet. Fifty percent Rhazya was fatal to rats, and hepatorenal lesions at 3 and 6 w confirmed changes in serum enzyme activity and in total protein, albumin, bilirubin and urea concentrations. Serum copper was decreased and zinc was increased in rats on 50% R stricta at 3 and 6 w, and were accompanied by anemia and neutropenia. Two percent Rhazya diet promoted growth as the plant leaves contained 28.3% crude protein and 16.6% crude fat and were not deficient in copper, zinc or iron.