Effects of kacangma herb (Leonurus sibiricus) intake on blood chemistry, clinical pathology, body and organ weight changes in rabbit

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

Abstract

The toxicity of Sarawak traditional herb, kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus L.) was evaluated through acute and subchronic studies on New Zealand White male and female rabbits. In the acute toxicity study, rabbits were given two dosages of kacangma i.e. 2.0 and 5.0 g/kg body weight. The rabbits were observed for any toxic signs and death for the first 24 h and continued up to 14 days. During the 14-day period, none of the animals died and no significant differences were observed in body weight gain, and food and water consumption. Subsequently the subchronic toxicity was studied for 90 days. The rabbits were fed kacangma at the rate of 0.5 (low dose), 5.0 (medium dose) and 25.0 (high dose) g/kg body weight. The control group received only the commercial pellet. The changes in body weight, organ relative weight, lipid profile, and clinical pathology on renal and liver function were observed. Some indications of renal and liver toxicities were evident in the medium and high dose groups when plasma creatinine and liver enzymes (alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase) concentrations were significantly different as compared to the control and low dose groups. In conclusion, kacangma herb had showed no signs of toxicity if consumed at the rate of 0.5 g/kg body weight (low dose) based on the 90-day subchronic study.

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