Effect of Strelitzia nicolai seed arils containing bilirubin on Sprague Dawley rats Dwarka Depika1,*, Singh Sanil2, Thaver Veneesha3, Baijnath Himansu School of Biological Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa 1School of Biological Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa 2Biomedical Resource Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa 3School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical sciences, Discipline of Physiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban. South Africa *Corresponding author's e-mail: depika.dwarka@gmail.com
Online published on 15 October, 2019. Abstract The discovery of the only human pigment bilirubin in the arils of Strelitzia nicolai, has opened up a new avenue in medical sciences. Previously, bilirubin was regarded as a toxic compound. Conversely, current case studies show somewhat preeminent levels of bilirubin in the body can act as a powerful antioxidant. This study attempted to provide a basis for identifying potential acute toxicities related to arils that comprise bilirubin. Twelve Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group A was the control and was administered 1% Tween 20. The other groups were orally dosed with the seed aril extract (250μg/ml/kgbwt) once a day. After 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours one experimental group and the control were sacrificed. Haematological and histological studies indicated a possibility of kidney damage. However, the possibility of the extract causing this damage can be ruled out because this trend was seen in the control groups as well. This study reveals that an acute trial is insufficient in order to determine the toxicity of this extract. Further chronic studies need to be carried out. Top Keywords Aril extract, Bilirubin, Seed arils, Strelitzia nicolai. Top |