Cytotoxicity of Heliotropium indicum Methanolic Leaf Extract in Mice

Abstract

Heliotropium indicum grows well in wet fertile soils often near rivers and lakes in tropical and subtropical countries. It contains phytochemicals with beneficial health effects. However, information is scarce on its cytotoxicity. The objective of this study was to determine cytotoxic effects of methanolic leaf extract of the plant in mouse organs. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group A received distilled water 10 ml/kg. Groups B, C, and D received orally plant leaf extract at doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 15 mg/kg respectively per day for 7 days. At the end of day 7 mice were sacrificed, tissues from various organs dissected, processed into tissue blocks and sectioned followed by Haematoxylin and Eosin staining to examine histological organization of the tissues and immunohistochemical analysis for single stranded DNA (ssDNA) to determined cell death by apoptosis. The results showed that the extract at all doses in both male and female mice induced cell death. Affected cells include spermatogonia in testis leading to absence of spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules; stromal cells and cumurus oophorus of the ovary, epithelial cells lining glandular and non-glandular stomach; hepatocytes of the liver, collecting ductal cells in medullary rays in the kidney, pneumocyte type I, II and macrophages of the lungs and cells of red and white pulps of the spleen. It can be concluded that methanolic leaf extract of H. indicum is cytotoxic to cell of the vital organs of the body, suggesting that medicinal use of the plant leaf extract in any form should be taken with care. 

Mouse; body organs; apoptosis; traditional medicine