Vegetos

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of Pteris cretica collected from Uttarakhand, in laboratory rats for a period of 6 months. Hematology, serum biochemistry and histopathology of brain, bone marrow and visceral organs were carried out on 45, 90 and 180 days interval. The ultrastructural studies of target organs, viz liver, spleen, kidneys, ileum and urinary bladder was done on 180 days post feeding. Pteris cretica fern fed animals failed to show any mortality and there was non significant decrease in body weight, non significant alteration/trends in the relative weight of brain and visceral organs-like spleen, liver and kidneys. There was significant leucocytosis, increase in ALT, AST and globulin at certain intervals and non significant alterations in serum protein, hepatic enzymes and certain blood parameters. Histopathologically, haemosiderosis in spleen and prominent vascular changes were observed in liver and kidneys in later intervals of the study. Ultrastructural studies revealed apoptotic changes in hepatocytes and enterocytes; vacuolations in the cytoplasm of renal tubular cells in fern fed rats. The shade dried Pteris cretica powder feeding upto six months produced mild toxic changes in laboratory rats and failed to produce carcinogenic effects.