Preclinical Acute Toxicity Assessment of a Crude Polysaccharide Isolated from the Stem of Solanum Nigrum: A Preliminary Analysis

The polysaccharide isolated from Solanum nigrum was proven to possess an immunomodulatory effect and able to suppress the progression of tumor cells by proxy. However, data on the toxicity profile is still limited. The present preclinical study was conducted to investigate the toxicity potential of the crude polysaccharide sample. The acute toxicity experimental design was adapted from OECD 423 guideline. Nine female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, 3 mice per group (n=3). Mice in group A (first-step treatment) were orally administered with a single treatment of crude polysaccharide sample at concentration 2,000 mg/kg/bw (300 µL). Mice in group B (second-step treatment) were received the single treatment after 24 hours, depending on the observation of mice in group A. Mice in group C served as control. Mortality and clinical signs associated with toxicity were observed within 24 hours of treatment session and for the subsequence 14 days for delay-death detection. Mice body weight was recorded starting at day-0 until day-14 prior to sacrificing at day-15. Blood, liver, and kidney were harvested for toxicology assessment. Within 24 hours of treatment, 1 mouse in group A was found to died, while no mortality and delay-death were observed in groups B and C. Referring to OECD 423, it was estimated that the LD50 of the treated sample was 2,500–5,000 mg/kg/bw. No significant changes (p<0.05) were detected in terms of body weight and organ weight indexes of the treated mice as compared to control. The polysaccharide treatment also revealed no significant elevation in mice serum glucose levels. The present findings indicated that the treatment of crude polysaccharide sample exerted a very mild acute toxicity effect when orally administered at 2,000 mg/kg/bw, with no delay-death.

Healing effects of Solanum nigrum fruit extract on second-degree burn wounds and its antibacterial activity against common pathogens of burn infection

Aims: Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum) is a species of flowering plant from the Solanaceae family and one of the indigenous plants of Eurasia. Given the biological activities of this plant, like antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory ones, this study assessed its effects on the healing process of second-degree burn wounds in rats. We also evaluated its antibacterial activity against common pathogens of burn wound infection (i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumanni). Methods: S. nigrum fruit extract was prepared by percolation and reflux methods. The extract was applied for the treatment of animal models with second-degree burn wounds. Parameters of wound healing and maturation, including collagen deposition, epithelialization, reduction of neutrophil migration, and angiogenesis, were evaluated. The antimicrobial activity of S. nigrum fruit extract against common pathogens of burn wound infection was assessed by the agar well diffusion method via measurement of zones of microbial growth inhibition. Results: Histological analysis showed a significant reduction in neutrophil migration by the 20% hydroalcoholic extract vs. control group (normal saline). In addition, we found that the 20% hydroalcoholic extract was more efficient than silver sulfadiazine in augmenting collagen deposition. S. nigrum hydro alcoholic extract also showed an inhibitory effect on S. aureus. Conclusion: S. nigrum 20% hydroalcoholic extract improved some of the wound healing parameters such as collagen deposition and inflammation. It also shows an inhibitory effect on S. aureus. So, it may have therapeutic effects on burns.