| Abstract: | The goals of this study were to investigate some aspects of the toxicity of Solanum dimidiatum. This included examining the acetylcholinesterase inhibiting potential in the central nervous system of an isolate from this plant; looking at the effects of the isolate on selected biochemical parameters in serum of rabbits; and most importantly, probing the developmental toxicity of the isolate in date-bred hamsters. Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activity in brain tissue of hamsters was not inhibited in subjects acutely intoxicated with the plant isolate. Changes in serum biochemical parameters were monitored in rabbits as a reflection of subchronic intoxication with the plant isolate. Significant elevations in serum activities of CPK, LDH, and AST provided evidence of muscle injury. Damage to muscle tissue was not progressive or persistent, based on the fact that these enzymes returned to near baseline levels shortly after exposure to the plant isolate ceased. A 5-fold increase in serum GGT activity in treated groups indicated hepatic injury also was involved in subchronic intoxication of rabbits. Investigation of the developmental toxicity of the plant isolate in date-bred Syrian golden hamsters revealed a dose-related trend towards embryolethality. Neural-tube defects were produced in hamster fetuses at a maternal dose of 1.52 mg of plant isolate per g of body weight. Exencephaly produced in 2 fetuses demonstrated the teratogenic capability of this plant. This represented a treatment group incidence of 1.4% for this major malformation. Although this may appear to be an insignificant incidence, it represents a 28-fold increase over historical controls. Other malformations seen were syndactyly in a single fetus from a litter in the 0.45 mg/g dose level and gastroschisis in a single fetus from a litter in the 1.01 mg/g dose group. The inference drawn from this study is that the isolate extracted from Solanum dimidiatum is uniquely toxic to the developing hamster embryo. |
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