Antioxidant activity and safety assessment of Tragopogon buphthalmoides hydroethanolic extract: Acute and subchronic toxicities

Tragopogon buphthalmoides (DC.) Boiss, is widely used as a food additive with some imputed health effects in folk medicine of western Iran. Unfortunately, despite the prevalent medicinal uses of the plant, there are no reports on the toxic effects of T. buphthalmoides aerial parts. The present study evaluated the potential toxicity of dried hydroethanolic extract of the species in wistar rats. Also, we investigated antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) of the extract. In the acute study, single doses of extract were administered orally, and the rats were then monitored for 14 days. In the subchronic toxicity study, the sample was administered to the rats for 45 days. In the antioxidant capacity assays dried extract showed moderate to weak antioxidant activities. Also, the sample showed relatively notable TPC. The results of acute study indicated that the LD(50) of T. buphthalmoides is higher than 2500 mg/kg. Biochemical analysis showed some significant changes including creatinine, glucose and triglyceride levels. Moreover, some significant abnormality of lung, kidney and liver organs was observed. Based on the results of this study, adverse effect level (AEL) of dried hydroethanolic extract of T. buphthalmoides considered to be less than 175 mg/kg/day for the male and female rats.