Toxicological evaluation of Grains of Paradise ( Aframomum melegueta) [Roscoe] K. Schum

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2010-02, Vol.127 (2), p.352-356
• Main Authors: Ilic, Nebojsa, Schmidt, Barbara M., Poulev, Alexander, Raskin, Ilya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aframomum melegueta; Alkaline phosphatase; animal models; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - isolation & purification; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; blood glucose; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Dietary supplement; dosage; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Eating - drug effects; Eating - physiology; fatty liver; Female; females; gender differences; General pharmacology; Gingerols; herbal medicines; liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; liver cirrhosis; Liver toxicity; Male; males; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Organ Size - drug effects; Organ Size - physiology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Seeds - toxicity; subchronic toxicity; tissue weight; Zingiberaceae - toxicity
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.10.031

Grains of Paradise ( Aframomum melegueta [Roscoe] K. Schum.) seeds are used in West Africa as a remedy for variety of ailments such as stomach ache, snakebite, diarrhea and they have reported anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the seeds contain gingerols and related compounds that may be useful against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and inflammation. A 28-day sub-chronic toxicity study in male and female Sprague–Dawley rats was conducted to evaluate the safety of a Grains of Paradise extract. An ethanolic extract of the seeds was evaluated for toxicological effect on rats. A dose-related increase in absolute and relative liver weights was observed in males and females dosed with 450 and 1500 mg/kg. There was a corresponding increase in alkaline phosphatase with no signs of steatosis or cirrhosis. At the same doses, there was a significant decrease in blood glucose in male rats. This study shows that Grains of Paradise extract may be useful as a treatment for diabetes, however liver toxicity should be considered.