TOXIC EFFECTS OF FRANCOEURIA-CRISPA IN RATS

The toxicity to rats of Sraudi Francoeuria crispa used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders was investigated. Fran coeuria crispa leaves were fed to rats at 2% and 10% of the diet for 8 weeks. In rats on the 10% F. crispa diet, there was a decrease in ave rage body weight gain and feed efficiency, soft faeces and enterohepat onephrotoxicity. These changes were accompanied by raised serum AST an d GGT activities and urea and cholesterol concentrations, decreased to tal protein and albumin levels, leucopenia and nonnocytic narmochromic anaemia. Growth of rats on the 2% F. crispa diet was promoted compare d with rats on a control diet. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.