Evaluation of Sub-Acute Toxicity of Ficuscarica Spray-Dried Leaf Extract in Sprague Dawley Mice

Toxicity and various hematological and biochemical effects of Ficus carica spray-dried leaf extracts were investigated in Sprague Dawley mice. Two doses (1 g/kg and 3 g/kg body weight) of the extract were administered orally to mice that were subsequently sacrificed after 28 days. The hematological parameters examined were total and differential leukocyte count (WBC), erythrocyte count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB) and platelet count (PLT). The biochemical parameters studied were serum total protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine and total bilirubin. The results showed no evidence of sub-acute toxicity in the treated mice, indicating that the extract posed no significant toxicity risk. Hence, there is good likelihood that F. carica extracts are similarly safe with respect to sub-acute toxicity in humans.