Abstract

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae) is an evergreen tree that has been used to treat lung diseases. In this study, the toxicity profile of indole alkaloids from leaves of A. scholaris was investigated. In acute toxicity tests, mice were administered total alkaloids (TA) and five indole alkaloids. In a chronic toxicity test, rats were continuously administered TA (50, 100, and 300 mg/kg bw) for 13 weeks, followed by a 4-week recovery. A single administration of TA affected the behavior of mice, and at 12.8 g/kg bw, prone position, shortness of breath, wheezing, and convulsion were observed. The half-lethal dose (LD50) in mice was 5.48 g/kg bw, almost 2740 times the clinical dose in humans. Among the five indole alkaloids, the maximum tolerance dose in mice ranged from 0.75 to 4 g/kg bw. The TA-treated rats did not die and showed no adverse effects or dose-dependent changes in weight or food and water consumption, despite fluctuations in hematological and biochemical parameters compared with historical data. Furthermore, both gross and histopathological observations revealed no abnormalities in any organ. With daily oral administration to rats, the non-observed-adverse-effect-level of TA was 100 mg/kg bw. The results indicate that TA is safe for clinical use.

Graphic Abstract

Details

Title
Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Indole Alkaloids from Leaves of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. in Mice and Rats
Author
Yun-Li, Zhao 1 ; Su, Min 2 ; Jian-Hua, Shang 3 ; Wang, Xia 2 ; Njateng Guy Sedar Singor 4 ; Guang-Lei, Bao 5 ; Ma, Jia 5 ; Qing-Di, Sun 6 ; Yuan, Fang 7 ; Jing-Kun, Wang 7 ; Xiao-Dong, Luo 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309); Yunnan University, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.440773.3) 
 Yunnan Institute of Medical Material, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.440773.3) 
 Yunnan Institute of Medical Material, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.440773.3); Yunnan University, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.440773.3) 
 University of Dschang, Laboratory of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances, Faculty of Science, Dschang, Cameroon (GRID:grid.8201.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 0657 2358) 
 Yunnan Institute of Medical Material, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.8201.b) 
 Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.452522.6) 
 Yunnan Institute of Medical Material, Kunming, People’s Republic of China (GRID:grid.452522.6) 
Pages
77-88
Publication year
2020
Publication date
Apr 2020
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
ISSN
21922195
e-ISSN
21922209
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2393477574
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.