Evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity and mutagenic activity of the aqueous extract of pecan shells [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2013-09, Vol.59, p.579-585
• Main Authors: Porto, Luiz Carlos Santos, da Silva, Juliana, de Barros Falcão Ferraz, Alexandre, Corrêa, Dione Silva, dos Santos, Marcela Silva, Porto, Caroline Dalla Lana, Picada, Jaqueline Nascimento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute toxicity; Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents - administration & dosage; Anticholesteremic Agents - adverse effects; Anticholesteremic Agents - chemistry; Anticholesteremic Agents - metabolism; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - adverse effects; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - metabolism; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Biotransformation; bone marrow; Brazil; Carya - chemistry; Carya illinoinensis; Chemical mutagenesis; diabetes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ellagic acid; Ethnopharmacology; flavonoids; Gallic acid; high performance liquid chromatography; Human bacterial diseases; hypercholesterolemia; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Traditional; Micronucleus test; Micronucleus Tests; Microsomes, Liver - enzymology; Microsomes, Liver - metabolism; mutagenicity; Mutagenicity Tests; Nuts - chemistry; Pecan shell; pecan shells; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - adverse effects; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - metabolism; point mutation; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Salmonella; Salmonella/microsome assay; shelling; subacute toxicity; Surface Properties; tannins; toxicity testing; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Toxicity Tests, Subacute; Toxicology; triacylglycerols; weight loss
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.06.048

•Pecan shells aqueous extract does not present oral acute and subacute toxicity.•The extract does not induce mutagenic effects in vitro and in vivo.•The lack of toxicity and mutagenicity justifies further studies for its clinical use. The infusion of pecan shells has been used to prevent and control hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and toxicological diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate toxicity and mutagenic effects of pecan shells aqueous extract (PSAE). Wistar rats were treated with a single dose of 300 or 2000mg/kg of PSAE in the acute toxicity test. For the subacute test, the animals received 10 or 100mg/kg of PSAE for 28days. The mutagenicity was evaluated using Salmonella/microsome assay in TA1535, TA1537, TA98, TA100 and TA102 S. typhimurium strains in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) and micronucleus test in bone marrow. HPLC analyses indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoids, gallic and ellagic acids. Except for triglycerides, all treated groups presented normal hematological and biochemical parameters. Lower levels of triglycerides and weight loss were observed in the 100mg/kg group. Mutagenic activities were not detected in S. typhimurium strains and by the micronucleus test. Based on these results, PSAE was not able to induce chromosomal or point mutations, under the conditions tested. The 100mg/kg dose showed significant antihyperlipidemic action, with no severe toxic effects.