Study on the acute and subchronic toxicity of Flueggea virosa extract in In Vivo experimental models

Flueggea virosa is a traditional medicinal plant used in Vietnam and has demonstrated various pharmacological activities in international studies. However, the toxicity profile of the extract derived from this plant in Vietnam has not yet been validated through specific scientific research. This study aims to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxicity of the ethanol extract of Flueggea virosa. The study utilized a concentrated extract obtained using 96% ethanol as the extraction solvent. The extract was administered to Swiss albino mice for toxicity testing. Acute toxicity was assessed based on mortality rates across different dosage levels, as well as macroscopic and microscopic examination of the liver and kidneys. Additionally, organ function was evaluated through biochemical markers and hematological parameters. In the acute toxicity study, the extract did not induce any signs of toxicity in mice even at the highest administered dose of 15,000 mg/kg body weight via oral gavage. As a result, the LD₅₀ could not be determined. In the subchronic toxicity study, conducted over 42 days with doses of 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg, no signs of toxicity were observed in the test animals. Based on these findings, the research team concludes that the ethanol (96%) extract of Flueggea virosa does not exhibit acute or subchronic toxicity in animal models under the tested conditions.