Subacute effects of Murdannia Loriformis ethanolic extract on hepatic cytochrome P450 and clinical blood chemistry in rats

Abstract

Murdannia loriformis (Hassk). Rolla Rao et Kammathy is commonly called in Thai as “Ya Pak King”. M. loriformis has been used traditionally as a remedy for many kinds of cancers. This study examined subacute effects of M. loriformis ethanolic extract on phase I hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) in rats. In addition, effects of this extract on clinical blood chemistry and hematology were also determined. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three treatment groups, ten in each group. Rats in the first group were given distilled water 1 ml/kg/day serving as a control group. The other two groups of rats were given M. loriformis ethanolic extract at dosages of 0.1 and 1 g/kg/day. Each group were administered orally for 30 consecutive days. During the treatment peroid, body weight was recorded every week. At the end of the treatment peroid, rats were anesthesized. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture and serum samples were prepared for measuring hematology and clinical blood chemistry, respectively. Microsomes were prepared from livers and being used for determining concentrations of total CYP as well as activities of CYP 1A11 1A2, 2B1/2, 2E1 and 3A. The results showed that M. loriformis ethanolic extract at both dosages given in this study did not affect body weight, relative liver weight, hepatic total CYP concentrations and the activities of CYP 1A1, 1A2, 2B1/2, 2E1 and 3A. Rats received both dosage regimens of M. loriformis ethanolic extract demonstrated no changes of the following clinical blood chemistry and hematology: AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, BUN, SCr, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, WBC count, % differential WBCs, RBC indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), and RBC morphology. These results suggested that M. loriformis ethanolic extract did not modulate the activities of the most phase I hepatic CYPs involving in carcinogenic/mutagenic bioactivation. Furthermore, no effects of this extract were shown on several important organs/systems such as liver, kidney, blood system, electrolytes as well as carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.