Long-term consumption of polysaccharide gel from durian fruit-hulls in mice

Consumptive safety studies of durian polysaccharide gel were performed in mice. The polysaccharide gel, DF sub(II), and DF sub(I), were given orally for 60 and 100 days to male and female groups, respectively. The oral doses of 0.25 g/kg/d of DF sub(II) or DF sub(I) or standard polysaccharide pectin or a high dose of 0.5 g/kg/d of DF sub(II), were given to test groups. Food and water were given ad libitum. The results indicated that no toxic effect was induced in treated mice. Relative body weight gain profile in treated mice was not different (p0.05) from its control. However, the lowest mean values of relative weight gain were obtained at finale in male and female groups treated with 0.5 g.kg/d of DF sub(II). Other pathological effects were examined by clinical analysis of animal blood and serum. Normal hematologic results and clinical data of glucose, chloestrol, creatinine and BUN in treated groups were found and was not significantly different (p0.05) from those of control and/or standard groups. However, mean values of serum cholesterol in DF sub(II)- and DF sub(I)- treated groups were rather low in comparison to their control and standard. The serum enxymes ALP, AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) were examined for detection of any pathological changes of the liver. No significant elevation of these enzymes (p0.05) in DF sub(II)-and DF sub(I)-treated groups was observed in comparison to those of standard and control groups. This finding suggests that liver injury did not occur in treated mice. The relative liver weights of treated mice were not different (p0.05) from those of control male mice, while lower relative liver weights (p=0.05) were obtained in female treated and standard groups when compared to their control. Normal number and growth rate of offspring were obtained in DF sub(II) and DF sub(I) treated and control female groups. Subchronic toxicity in this study suggests that polysaccharide gel from fruit-hulls of durian at oral doses of 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg/d could be consumed safely for a long period of 60-100 days in male and female mice.