Objectives To explore the subchronic toxicity of tea saponin on rats.
Methods Eighty eight Wistar rats (half male and half female) were divided into 4 groups:a control group and 3 saponin groups (high, medium and low-dose group). Animals were treated once daily by gavage for 90 days. Clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, organ weight, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, and histopathology were observed and recorded.
Results No death was observed in all rats. No abnormalities was found in the low-dose group.In comparison with the control group, the lung index of males in the medium-dose group was higher (P < 0.05);the body weight of males in the high-dose group was significantly lower (P < 0.05);the count of white blood cells, index of brain, spleen and lung in the males of high-dose group was significantly higher (P < 0.05), the ALB concentration of females in the high-dose group was lower, the activities of ALT, ALP and CHE of females in the high-dose group were significantly higher (P < 0.05).
Conclusions The Results suggested that tea saponin might have potential impacts on the body weight of rats. In the subchronic toxicity test of tea saponin induced by oral exposure, the no observable adverse effect levels (NOAEL) was 20 mg/(kg·bw) and the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) was 100 mg/(kg·bw).
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