SUBCHRONIC ORAL TOXICITY OF TURMERIC AND ETHANOLIC TURMERIC EXTRACT IN FEMALE MICE AND RATS

Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract wa s studied in female Swiss mice and Wistar rats fed turmeric (0, 1 and 5%) and ethanolic turmeric extract (0, 0.05 and 0.25%) through diet fo r 14 and/or 90 days. The administration of a high dose of turmeric (5% ) for longer duration (90 days) showed a significant reduction in body weight gain, alterations in absolute and/or relative liver weights, a nd hepatotoxicity i.e. focal necrosis or focal necrosis with regenerat ion both in mice and rats. In mice lower doses of turmeric i.e 0.2 or 1% for 14 days also showed hepatotoxicity and they were found to be mo re vulnerable to turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity than rats. (C) 1998 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.