Toxicity study of Psidium guajava Linn. leaves
1995
Aimmanas Attawish | Pranee Chavalittumrong | Pat Rugsamon | Pranee Chuntapet
Guava leaf is traditionally used as an antidiarrheal drug. Since toxicological data have not been reported, acute toxicity study in mice and chronic toxicity study in rats were performed. In acute toxicity study, LD sub(50) of water extract of guava leaves given orally in mice was more than 20.0 g/kg. For chronic toxicity study, 128 rats of both sexes were divided into four groups. The control group received distilled water orally and the three treatment groups received the extract of guava leaves at the dose of 0.2, 2.0 and 20.0 g/kg/day (equivalent to 1, 10 and 100 times of usual therapeutic dose for the treatment of diarrhea) for 6 months. Body weight gains of male rats in all guava-treated groups were significantly lower than that of the control group while there was no difference in food consumption among all groups. Behavior and symptom were normal. There were significant increases (P0.05) in WBC, ALP, SGPT levels and serum level of BUN in male rats whereas serum sodium and cholesterol levels were reduced (P0.05) indicating signs of hepatotoxicity. In guava-treated female rats, however, serum sodium, potassium and albumin levels were significantly increased (P0.05) whereas platelets and serum globulin levels were significantly decreased. In male rats, liver weights and spleen weights of the treated groups were increased significantly (P0.05). Histopathological determinations showed mild degree of fatty change and hydronephrosis in both control and treated groups of male rats but nephrocalcinosis and chronic pyelonephritis were observed in some guava-treated female rats. The results of this toxicity study suggested that for the safe use of guava leaves as an antidiarrheal drug, the recommended dose and duration of treatment should not be exceeded.
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