ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITIESOF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SIMAROUBA AMARA AUBLET STEM BARK

The decoction of Simarouba amara stem bark has been used to treat malaria, inflammation, diarrhea and as tonic. The aim of this study was to evaluate acute and subacute toxicities of the aqueous extract of S. amara stem bark (SAAE) in rats and mice, respectively. For the acute toxicity test, the SAAE was administered in a single oral dose of 2.0 g/kg (n = 5/group/sex) and in the subacute, the following doses were used: 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg/day (n = 12/group/sex, p.o.), for 30 consecutive days. In the acute toxicity, SAAE did not produce mortality nor clinical signs of toxicity. The subacute treatment did not alter water intake, however, in the last week there were reductions body mass gain of males and females treated with the highest dose. The males showed increased levels of total protein and albumin (all doses), of alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin (doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) and leukocytosis (1.0 g/kg). The females showed hyperuricemia (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg), hypertriglyceridemia (1.0 g/kg) and increased levels of RDW (1.0 g/kg).The histological analysis showed discrete lymphocytic infiltrate in the heart of males (1.0 g/kg), discrete hepatic steatosis in the females (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) and increased renal capsular space and hypertrophy of adrenal gland espongiocytes (both sexes treated with 1.0 g/kg). In conclusion, the subacute administration of SAAE in the highest dose suggests some toxicity in the long term, but further studies should be conducted for confirmation