Pre-clinical toxicology of garcinielliptone FC, a tautomeric pair of polyprenylated benzophenone, isolated from Platonia insignis Mart seeds.

BACKGROUND

Garcinielliptone FC (GFC) is a tautomeric pair of polyprenylated benzophenone, which has proven to have antiepileptic, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical, hematological and pathological effects of the acute toxicity study as well as to assess the locomotor activity and motor coordination in mice treated with GFC.

METHODS

Swiss mice of both sexes weighing 25-30 g divided into three separate groups of five animals matched by weight and size. GFC was aseptically suspended in 0.05% Tween 80, dissolved in 0.9% saline (vehicle) and administered orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.) (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg). The acute toxicity study was performed in compliance with the Anvisa regulations.

RESULTS

Behavioral manifestations of toxicity, such as state of consciousness, coordination, muscle tone, reflexes, the activity on the central nervous system (shake, seizures, Straub tail reaction and anesthesia) and the activity of the autonomic nervous system (lacrimation, ptosis, urination, piloerection, hypothermia, breathing and hyperemia) were not seen in any of the animals treated with doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. Additionally, no significant difference in body weight, food and water intake, excreta production or macroscopic changes in the organs of treated animals were detected in comparison with control group. GFC did not affect the locomotor activity and motor coordination of the animals.

CONCLUSIONS

The acute toxicity study indicated that GFC treatment, at selected doses given orally and intraperitoneally, showed relatively low risk of toxicity in all test animals, suggesting that it is safe for further investigation.