Thirteen-week toxicity study of mengkudu juice (Morinda citrifolia): Effect on the blood analysis

H. Hadijah, A. Normah and S. Ahmad Tarmizi

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of an aqueous extract of mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) fruit on Sprague-Dawley male rats. The rats were given three dosages of mengkudu extracts (5, 1 0 and 20%) in drinking water. No significant changes in haematology values such as red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), haematocrit and haemoglobin in all mengkudu-treated rats. However, the platelet count was increased significantly in high dose group of rats, indicative of liver injury. In kidney function test, rats treated with the highest dose of mengkudu juice showed significant increase (p <0.05) in the urea and creatinine values, suggestive of renal injury. Moreover, the ALT and GGT (both enzyme markers for liver injury) also increased significantly (p <0.05) in the highest dose of mengkudu juice. Thus, this study found that a dosage of 20% mengkudu juice (highest dose) was not safe for the rats as it indicated renal as well as liver injuries. However, lower dosages of the juice (5% and 0% respectively) showed no significant changes in any aspect of the study, hence were considered safe.

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