Toxicological evaluation of dried kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus) in rats: II. Haematology and histopathology

H.P. Chua, M. Murugaiyah and A.Aminah

Abstract

Kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus L.) is a popular traditional herb among the people of Sarawak as herbal medicine and culinary ingredient. The toxicity of kacangma herb on male and female Sprague Dawley rats was evaluated in the sub-chronic studies. Effect of kacangma intake at 0.5, 5.0 and 25.0 g/kg body weight was evaluated for 90 days with haematological and histopathological analysis. The haematology study revealed statistically significant mild anaemia in rats from the medium and high dose groups as indicated by decreases in haemoglobin, red blood cell count and packed cell volume (haematocrit value). Administration of kacangma herb at medium and high dose was also found to cause adverse effects in histopathological structure of the liver and kidney of both male and female rats. However, low dose group showed no significant differences compared to the control. Therefore, it is considered safe and less chance of developing toxicity if the herb is consumed at the dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight as observed throughout the 90-day period of sub-chronic study.

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