The Toxicity Effect of Echium Amoenum on the Liver and Kidney of Mice

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effect of Echium amoenum plants on the liver and kidney of animal model.

Background: Echium amoenum is one of the medicinal plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids with several properties which has widely consumed among different communities.

Objective: The toxic effects of Echium amoenum on the liver and kidney were investigated in this study.

Methods: Sixty mice were kept for 28 days under the appropriate laboratory conditions. Echium amoenum extract (25, 12.5, 50 mg / kg, ip.) was administered for 28 days. At the end of experiment, blood samples were drawn and liver and kidneys were removed for evaluating hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of extract. Additionally, experiments were conducted to assay the enzymatic and oxidative activities.

Results: There was no significant difference in the levels of copper ion in the liver and kidneys among all groups. There was a significant difference in the levels of lipid peroxidation in the liver of treated groups versus control group. The significant difference was not observed in the levels of glutathione of the liver of all groups. However, the levels of glutathione of the kidney significantly decreased in the treated groups versus control group. There was no significant difference in the liver enzymes including ALP, SGOT, and SGPT between all groups. This indicates that damage increase with enhancing the time and concentrations of extract. Biochemical analysis showed the creatinine and urea levels did not change in the treated groups versus control group.

Conclusion: According to the present findings, it is suggested that Echium amoenum causes hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity effects in dose and time dependent manner.

Keywords: Echium amoenum; hepatotoxicity; histopathology; nephrotoxicity; oxidative stress.