TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOBATUM

Sobatum, the partially purified component of the plant Solanum triloba tum was obtained from the petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (75:25) extrac table portion. It was identified as P-sitosterol by comparison with an authentic sample and proved to be an anticancer agent by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the acute/subacute toxicity of sobatum and its effect on antioxidant enzym es. In the acute toxicity test, there was a single exposure of sobatum in mice in order to evaluate toxicity symptoms. In the subacute toxic ity study, the exposure was usually daily so as to evaluate the target organs affected by the compound and the major toxic effects and enzym atic and histopathological changes. The results of the study suggested that sobatum did not induce any toxic symptoms or death immediately a fter injection or at the end of the experimental period. It was also s hown that there was no change in blood parameters or antioxidant enzym es in sobatum-treated animals. Regarding histopathological evaluation, there was no development of gross abnormalities or pathological lesio ns observed in any of the tissues in sobatum-treated and control group s. Hence, the present study concluded that the anticancer agent, sobat um, did not produce any acute/subacute toxicities or anomalies in the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d.