Toxicity of a subchronic treatment with hydroalcoholic crude extract from Solanum grandiflorum (Ruiz et Pav) in rats

The toxic effect of the hydroalcoholic crude extract (HACE) from the fruits of the Solanum grandiflorum was evaluated following subchronic treatment (p.o.) in Wistar rats for 65 days using the dose of 2mg/kg. The LD50 in mice was 50mg/kg (p.o.). At the end of treatment, the consumption of water remained within the normal patterns. On the other hand, the consumption of food had 40% reduction in the period between the 18th and the 40th day after the beginning of the study. The diuresis showed a wide variation in volume which started at the 8th day of treatment until the end of the study. This finding was correlated with macroscopic observations of the kidneys which presented nephromegaly (70%) when compared to the control group. Moreover, for the histopathological study, it was observed degeneration and glomerular necrosis (100%), tubular lesions (80%), and hypercellular lesions (100%) in the treated group. The ponderal development of the treated group was increased compared to the control group. The weight of some of the organs, including kidneys, lungs, and pancreas, was also increased in the treated group (P<0.05, Student “t” test). These data suggest a nephrotoxicity following a subchronic treatment of the hydroalcoholic crude extract from Solanum grandiflorum.