TOXICITY STUDIES OF A SAPONIN ISOLATED FROM THE FRUITS OF MOMORDICA DIOICA IN RATS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of a saponin isolated from the fruits of the Momordica dioica as per OECD guidelines. Saponin was isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of M. dioica, and acute, sub-acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity was evaluated. The study of the acute toxicity of saponin M. dioica (SMD) at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg/b.w. by oral route in, recorded no mortality, and showed no change in the general behavior of the treated rats for 14 days. Administration at the doses; 1000, 500, and 250 mg/kg/b.w. by oral route in rats for 28 days and an animal showed doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg/b.w. of SMD was safe, no mortality for sub-acute but in a repeated dose of 1000 mg/kg/b.w. group produced treatment-related signs of toxicity. The study of Sub-chronic toxicity at the doses; 500, 250 and 100 mg/kg/b.w. of SMD in rats for 90 days and animals showed normal; hematological and biochemical parameters and gross findings compared to the control group. Histopathology examinations of all vital organs did not reveal morphological alteration especially the dose of 250 and 100 mg/kg/b.w. This finding further confirmation by the administration of extract of SMD 250, 100 and 50 mg/kg/b.w. for 180 days produced no clinical signs for toxicity or mortality. We may conclude that SMD is not toxic in the doses of 250, 100 and 50 mg/kg/b.w and did not produce any toxic signs or any remarkable histopathological signs or serum chemical alteration.