Evaluation of Acute Toxicity of the Alkaloids of Peganum harmala L Seeds in Albino Wistar Female Rats

The Peganum harmala, commonly known as syrian street, belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae. Peganum harmala L is widely used in traditional medicine and pharmacology. The evaluation of toxic properties of Peganum harmala is crucial when considering public health protection because exposure to plant extracts can result in undesirable effects on consumers. Hence, in this study the acute IP toxicity of the total alkaloids of Peganum harmala L seeds was investigated in female rats. The oral dose (60 mg/kg) of tested plant extract was administered to two groups of animals (group I and II) in single dose and third group III is control. The first treated group is sacrificed after 24 hours and the second treated group and control group are sacrificed after 5 days. Throughout the treatment, changes in behavioral pattern, clinical sign and body weight of rats in treatment groups are observed. Also, a significant decrease in relative liver mass and serum biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, PAL, Bil D and Bil T) were observed. An increase in red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit was recorded in group II. Histological examination shows that the seed extract of Peganum harmala L has no remarkable toxic effect on the liver of the treated animals of the second group. The result indicates that the IP administration of the total alkaloids of Peganum harmala L seeds plant did not produce any significant toxic effect in albino rats.