Safety and antioxidant potential of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf extract: an acute toxicity and DPPH scavenging study

Abstract

The current study aimed to assess the toxicological profile and antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of Ziziphus mauritiana (Z. mauritiana) leaves, evaluating its safety and therapeutic properties. The toxicological assessment followed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 423 guidelines, using female Wistar rats to evaluate acute oral toxicity. The extract was administered in doses of 5, 50, 300, and 2000 mg/kg body weight, with physiological responses and mortality observed over 14 days. Antioxidant potential was assessed through total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA) assays. TPC and TFC were measured using gallic acid and quercetin as standards, respectively. No signs of toxicity or mortality were observed across all dose levels, indicating the extract’s safety even at high doses. Antioxidant analysis revealed significant TPC and TFC values, reaching 5.24 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram (GAE/g) and 4.17 mg quercetin equivalent per gram (QE/g), respectively. The extract exhibited strong DPPH RSA, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 128.17 μg/mL, indicating potent antioxidant efficacy. The ethanolic extract of Z. mauritiana leaves demonstrated substantial antioxidant activity and an absence of acute toxicity, supporting its potential use as a natural antioxidant agent in medicinal applications. Future studies should explore its bioactive components and effects in disease models.