SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY STUDY OF EASTERN BLACK NIGHTSHADE (SOLANUM-PTYCANTHUM) BERRIES IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

Species of the Solanum nigrum complex, including eastern black nightsh ade (S. ptycanthum Dun.), are common nuisance plants, and their berrie s often contaminate agricultural commodities. Black nightshade plants and their fruits contain solanaceous glycoalkaloids, but little inform ation is available regarding their toxicity in vivo. Male and female r ats were fed diets containing 0, 1, 5 or 25 % (w/w) eastern black nigh tshade berries (BNB) for 13 weeks. BNB had no effect upon clinical app earance and behavior, body weight, food and water consumption, serum c hemical profiles or organ weights. Gross or microscopic lesions relate d to BNB were not found. Anemia was present in high-dose males after s ix weeks and in mid-dose males, high-dose males and high-dose females after 13 weeks. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations and hema tocrits of these groups were significantly decreased and averaged 81-9 3 % of their respective control values. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrits of males fed 1 % BNB, females fed 1 % B NB and females fed 5 % BNB averaged 94-97 % of the control values afte r 13 weeks. These findings indicate that ingestion of low to moderate amounts of S. ptycanthum berries does not pose a significant health ri sk, although anemia may be a potential consequence of prolonged exposu re to highly contaminated foodstuffs.