Acute and Chronic Effects of Methanolic Extract of Teucrium polium on Blood Parameters and Histopathology of Liver and Kidney in Female Rats

Background: Teucrium polium L. is a medicinal plant largely used traditionally in folk medicine in Algeria, locally named: Khayata. It is effective in the treatment of various diseases.

Methods: The Total Polyphenol and Flavonoid Contents of the methannlic extract of Teucrium polium was determined. in order to study any possible toxic effect or changes in normal behavior, Acute Toxicity Assay and Chronic Toxicity Study was evaluated. Experiments were performed on adult female Wistar albino rats. Under ether anesthesy, all the rats were euthanized, blood samples were withdrawn by sinus retro-orbital puncture in tubes containing EDTA and immediately processed for haematological tests using Beckman coulter-automatic For biochemical analyses, a volume of blood were collected in a heparinized tube.

Results: The methanolic extraction gave a yield of 8.24% from the aerial parts of T. polium. The total polyphenols, flavonoids quantities were 18.63 ± 3.51 mg equivalent gallic acid / g dried material and 9.14 ± 2.39 mg equivalent quercetin / g dried material, respectively. The study of acute toxicity showed a low toxicity with LD50 > 2400 mg / Kg of body weights. These data can be used to classify these plant in slightly toxic. However, the sub-acute treatment for six weeks of rats with 75, 150 and 300 mg of methanolic extract / Kg of body weight resulted in significant increases of the most studied haematological parameters. Biochemical analysis revealed significant increase of renal parameters (urea, creatinine, uric acid, Na and K), accompanied by increase of relative weight of kidney, lipidic (cholesterol) and hepatic glutamate oxalo-acetate transaminase (GOT) values in all treated rats. Histopathological examination confirmed the biochemical tests by the observation of perilobular necrosis areas, bile duct and inflammatory infiltration of the liver and presence of marked intracytoplasmic vacuoles in kidney with the dose 300 mg of methanolic extract of T. polium / Kg of animal body weight

Conclusion: The use of Teucrium polium L. may cause hepatotoxicity and/or nephrotoxicity after prolonged herb administration.