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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 7 No. 1 January-April 2009 ÚÛ

Effects on hematological parameters kg/day of TLE were significantly increased; there were
The number of RBCs in the male rats receiving no gross pathological and histological alterations of
TLE at the dose of 2,000 mg/kg/day and in the 2000R these organs. The increase of kidney weights in this
group was significantly decreased when compared study was consistent with the study of Wisitpongpan
with that of their control group. Male rats receiving et al., that rats receiving rang chuet leaf extract at
TLE at doses of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day and the 500 mg/kg for 28 days had significant increases in
9
2000R group had significantly increased MCV values. the weight of both kidneys. Despite the statistically
MCH values for male rats treated with 2,000 mg/kg/ significant decrease in RBCs in male rats receiving
day of TLE and those of the 2000R group were sig- TLE at 2,000 mg/kg/day and in the 2000R group, these
10,11
nificantly higher than those of their control group alterations were still within the normal range. Al-
(Table 3). Female rats receiving TLE at doses of 1,000 though the MCV values of male rats receiving TLE at
and 2,000 mg/kg/day showed significant increases in doses of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day were significantly
WBC numbers (Table 4). higher than that of the controls, and showed a ten-
dency toward a dose-dependent response and the
Effects on clinical chemistry parameters MCH value of the male rats receiving TLE at 2,000
Male rats receiving TLE at doses of 1,000 and mg/kg/day was significantly higher than that of the
2,000 mg/kg/day had significantly higher albumin lev- control group, these values were within the normal
10,11
els than their control group. The bilirubin level of range. The increases in WBCs in female rats re-
male rats receiving TLE at the dose of 2,000 mg/kg/ ceiving TLE at doses of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day
day was significantly higher than that of the control were consistent with the reports of Wisipongpan et
9,13
group (Table 5). The ALT level of the female rats al. and Techakitiroj, that is, they revealed a sig-
receiving the highest dose of TLE was significantly nificant increase in WBCs in rats treated with rang
lower than that of their control group, whereas the chuet extract. Therefore, this phenomenon may be
bilirubin level was significantly increased (Table 6). attributed to TLE. The increase in albumin levels in
male rats receiving TLE at doses of 1,000 and 2,000
Effects on histopathological alterations of visceral mg/kg/day and the decrease in the ALT level in fe-
organs male rats treated with the highest dose of TLE were

10,12
Necropsy revealed no remarkable gross lesions within the ratsû normal range. The significant
in any organs of both male and female rats receiving increases in total bilirubin levels in both sexes of rats
each dose of TLE, including their corresponding con- receiving TLE at the highest dose were consistent
13
trol groups. The incidence and degree of histopatho- with the study of Techakitiroj. In addition,
logical alterations in some organs of the TLE-treated Wisitpongpun et al. reported an increase in conju-
male and female rats did not show any dose-depen- gated bilirubin in rats receiving rang chuet extract
9
dency (Tables 7 and 8). There were no remarkable for 28 days. The mechanism of this change defi-
histopathological lesions in other organs of the TLE- nitely remains unknown; however, these alterations
10
treated groups and their controls. were within the normal range. The incidence and
severity of the histopathological findings in some or-
Discussion gans of the rats receiving TLE (Tables 7 and 8) had

There was no significant difference in body no correlation with the doses of TLE given; therefore,
weight and food consumption of rats treated with these changes may not be due to TLE.
TLE, suggesting that TLE does not adversely affect In conclusion, the chronic toxicity study of TLE
the general health status of such animals. Although extract at doses ranging from 20 to 2,000 mg/kg/day
the relative weights of spleens in male rats and those did not affect the body weight, food consumption,
of kidneys in both sexes of rats receiving 2,000 mg/ behavior and general health of Wistar rats. TLE did