Subchronic toxicity study of the ethanol root extract of Globba pendula Roxb. In Vivo experimental models

Globba pendula Roxb has a long history of use by the Khmer people and residents of the Mekong Delta for treating musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Preliminary studies indicate that the ethanol extract from its roots contains high levels of phenolics and flavonoids, exhibits strong antioxidant activity, and demonstrates selective cytotoxicity against certain cancer cell lines. However, the subchronic toxicity of this extract has not yet been evaluated in an in vivo model. To evaluate the subchronic toxicity of the ethanol root extract of Globba pendula Roxb. in mice. The ethanol root extract of Globba pendula Roxb. was collected from Dinh Mountain (Ba Ria – Vung Tau) and authenticated at the Institute of Tropical Biology, Ho Chi Minh City. The study was conducted on male and female Swiss albino mice. The mice were orally administered the extract at doses of 500 mg/Kg and 1000 mg/Kg/day for 28 consecutive days. Body weight, behavior, spontaneous locomotor activity, hematological parameters, and serum biochemistry (AST, ALT, creatinine, urea) were monitored. Gross and histopathological examinations of the liver and kidneys were also performed. The subchronic toxicity test at doses of 500 mg/Kg and 1000 mg/Kg over 28 days revealed no signs of toxicity in the experimental animals. The extract did not affect physical growth, locomotor behavior, hematological indices, or biochemical functions of the liver (AST, ALT) and kidneys (urea, creatinine) compared to the control group. Furthermore, gross and histopathological analyses confirmed that the liver and kidney parenchymal structures were preserved intact, with no observed inflammation, necrosis, or degeneration. The results indicate that the ethanol root extract of Globba pendula Roxb. did not exhibit abnormal toxicity in the subchronic toxicity model in experimental animals.