Introduction

The genus Barleria is a pantropical yet prevalently an old World class, with its most noteworthy focal point of species assortment in tropical East Africa, trailed by South Africa and Asia (Balkwill & Balkwill, 1998). It is the third biggest class in the family Acanthaceae with 300 species among that 32 species are accounted for from India (Balkwill & Balkwill, 1997). The genus Barleria is under shrub disseminate in hot areas of the world. Lately the entire plant of genus Barleria picked up the significance for treatment of different sicknesses like diabetes, liver issues, neurological issues, immunodeficiency, aggravation, ulcers, HSV-2 viral illnesses, and so on (Preet, Karan, & Maninder, 2014). Traditionally the plant species of genus Barleria in the form juice prepared by using leaves, roots etc., are used for cough, inflammation, hepatoprotective, wounds and diabetic. Among the genus Barleria, the Barleria buxifolia is proved for antibacterial activity (Primary, Leon, & Henry, 2018), anthelmintic activity (Chander, Sri, Sravanthi, & Susmitha, 2014), antifeedant activity (Jeyasankar, Chinnamani, Chennaiyan, & Ramar, 2014), anxiolytic activity, antidepressant activity (Purna et al., 2013), Prophylactic and Curative activities (Kapilraj, 2015). Barleria cristata is proved for antioxidant activity, thrombolytic activity, membrane stabilizing activity, antimicrobial activity (Tasnuva, Shahnaz, & Farhana, 2013) and antidiabetic activity (Banu, Arunachalam, Jayaveera, Babu, & Kumar, 2012). Barl eria gibsoni is proved for anti-inflammatory activity (Lakshman, Siva, & Vasudeva, 2014), anthelmintic activity (Firoj & Harinath, 2016), antiulcer and antioxidant activity (Firoj et al., 2016). Barleria Montana is proved for antibacterial activity (Natarajan, Gomathi, & Yuvarajan, 2012), hepatoprotective activity (Banu et al., 2012) and antidiabetic activity (Banu, Arunachalam, Jayaveera, Babu, & Kumar, 2012). Barleria cuspidata Heyne ex Nees is one of the important species in Barleria belongs to the family Acanthaceae. The common vernacular names are Spiny Barleria, Lesser yellow nail-dye, Vellaimuli (Malayalam), Kurantaka (Sanskrit), Kadanculli (Tamil) and others are Narayana Sooli, Manjadhoya mullai. It is a shrub found in waste places, dry plains and rocky hillslopes (Shankar & Yadav, 2010). Experimentally Barleria cuspidata Heyne ex Nees has proved for wound healing property (Mazumder, Sasmal, & Choudhary, 2009) and hepatoprotective activity (Tabassum, Rajaram, Nelson, Manohar, & Ravindra, 2020).

Customary arrangement of medication has drawn colossal consideration for in vivo examinations for different exercises from past decades, thus, more investigates are done so as to decide the harmfulness of restorative plants and their items. Toxicity is a condition of unfriendly impacts lead by the connections among poisons and cells. This component of activity may vary and relies upon the cell membrane and compound properties of the toxicants. It might happen inside the cell layer or on the cell surface or tissue underneath just as at the extracellular lattice. In a large portion of the cases essential organs, for example, liver, lungs, heart and kidney and so on, are influenced by the poisons (Das, Goshwami, Hasan, & Raihan, 2015). The organization for economic corporation and development (OECD) board of specialists characterizes acute toxicity as "the unfriendly impact happening inside a brief timeframe of (oral) disposal of a solitary portion of a substance or numerous dosages given inside 24 hrs. Also, sub-chronic toxicity as "the unfavorable impacts happening as consequence of the repetitive every day (oral) dosing of a chemical to test by and large for 1-3 months". Sub-chronic toxicity testing gives the significant data on the total poisonousness of a compound at low portion delayed presentation and wide assortment of unfavorable impact can be identified. The outcome from such investigations can give data's which will help in choosing dose level (Gandhare, Kavimani, & Rajkapoor, 2013). However, there is deficiency in elaborated scientific evaluation for toxicity and adverse effects of Barleria cuspidata Heyne ex Nees has been reported in the literatures. Accordingly, the current examination work was to assess the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of chloroform and methanol concentrates of Barleria cuspidata Heyne ex Nees in rodents.

Materials and Methods

Collection of plant material

Fresh whole plant of Barleria cuspidata Heyne ex Nees (Acanthaceae) were pull together from chittoor districts in the areas of Tirumala Hills and Tirupathi surroundings and authentified by Dr. K. Madava Chetty, Professor, Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi. Andhra Pradesh, India. Voucher specimen (No: BC - 1419) of this plant has been kept in the P. Rami Reddy Memorial College of Pharmacy, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Preparation of plant material

The gathered entire plant of Barleria cuspidata was washed with running water, cut into little pieces and shade dried at room temperature to maintain a strategic distance from loss of phytoconstituents of plant. The total shade dried materials pounded for powder and sieved up to 80 meshes. At that point it was homogenized to fine powder and put away in air‐tight compartment for additional toxicity considers.

Preparation of plant extracts

Whole plant powder of the Barleria cuspidata was extracted successively with two different solvents like chloroform (30-60°C) & methanol (50-70°C) in a Soxhlet apparatus in batches of 500 gm each. The overabundance solvent was expelled from extract utilizing a rotary vacuum evaporator and later on concentrated on a water bath. The rate yield of the extract was determined. At last dried extract was put away in desiccators for toxicity studies (Lachman, 2007).

Procurement of animals and maintenance

Albino rats of either sex, gauging the body weight of 150-250 gms were acquired from Sri Venkateswara Enterprises, Bangalore, India. Animals were kept up according to rules of NIN animal client manual. Animals are adjusted for 10 days to our creature house, kept up at temperature of 22ºC to ± 2 ºC. The animal was directed by a 12 hours light, 12 hours dark calendar. Five animals are housed per cage estimated 41 cm length, 28 cm width and height of 14 cm. Paddy husk was utilized for bedding and on elective day bedding was changed and washed altogether with water alongside domex, a disinfectant and detergenic. The rats were benefited from a standard pellet diet bought from Suresh organizations, Hyderabad and water not obligatory. The examination convention was investigated and endorsed by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) and trials were led according to the rules of CPCSEA. Reg. Number: 1423/PO/Re/S/11/CPCSEA, date 30^th October 2017.

Acute oral toxicity study

An oral acute toxicity investigation of chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria Cuspidata was performed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rule 425 on rodents (OECD, 2008), where the breaking point test portion of 5000 mg/kg was utilized. All the animals were kept 3 hours fasting before to explore different avenues regarding free abundance to water. A solitary oral dosages of 5000 mg/kg body weight of the individual chloroform and methanol extracts was given utilizing oral gavage for present moment (i.e., 48 hr) and long term (i.e., 14 days) to the rats. Before dose administration, the body weight of every animal was resolved and the dose was determined by the body weight. Animals were seen to distinguish intense changes in morphological and conduct reactions, unconstrained action, touchiness, corneal reflex, tremors, spasms, salivation, loose bowels, torpidity assuming any and furthermore observed for any mortality throughout toxicity study.

Sub chronic toxicity study

The oral sub chronic toxicity study was done by OECD rule 407. The animals were partitioned into 5 groups of 6 rats each were kept in five separate pens. Group I was kept as should be expected normal control and Group II to V were kept as tested groups which got the dosages as follows.

Group I- Normal control animals received normal clean drinking water ad libitum.

Group II- Animal received chloroform extract of Barleria Cuspidata (CEBC) 250 mg/kg per orally.

Group III- Animal received chloroform extract of Barleria Cuspidata (CEBC) 500 mg/kg per orally.

Group IV- Animal received methanol extract of Barleria Cuspidata (MEBC) 250 mg/kg per orally.

Group V- Animal received methanol extract of Barleria Cuspidata (MEBC) 500 mg/kg per orally.

All the animals in the above groups get their portions as needs be for the examination time of 90 days. Body weight of every animal in group was recorded at first and for like clockwork span till the most recent day of analysis. Following 90 days blood tests of exploratory rats in each group was acquired by retro orbital with a capillary into eppendrof tubes without anticoagulant, centrifuged at 400 x g for 10 min and the serum put away at 4⁰C for estimation of different serum biochemical boundaries, for example, glucose, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, SGOP, SGPT and ALP and for electrolytes (phosphorus, chloride and calcium). Other blood tests were gathered into isolated tubes previously covered with trisodium citrate for hematological investigation, for example, RBC, WBC, hemoglobin, platelets and mean cell volume. Every trial animal were sacrificed in the wake of gathering of blood tests by infusing the phenobarbital infusion for gathering the internal organs to decide the relative organ loads and for histopathological investigations of brain, liver, kidney, heart and lungs.

Serum biochemical parameters

Serum glucose, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, ALP and electrolytes were determined using a semi-automated analyzer.

Serum glucose determination

Serum glucose levels were determined by using Trinder method (Glucose, GOD-POD) by the addition of reagents present in reagent kit (AGD Biomedicals Pvt. Ltd.). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 505 nm (Soon & Tan, 2002).

Serum creatinine determination

Serum creatinine levels were ascertained by reagents present in reagent kit (AGD Biomedicals Pvt. Ltd.). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 520 nm.

Serum total protein concentration

Serum Total protein levels were ascertained by using End Point Assay method acting by the addition of reagents present in reagent kit (Span Diagnostic Ltd.). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 578 nm. The values of total proteins present in serum were expressed in g/dL.

Serum albumin concentration

Serum Albumin levels were ascertained by using Bromocresol Green, End Point Assay method by the addition of reagents present in reagent kit (Span Diagnostic Ltd.). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 630 nm. The values of Albumin present in serum were expressed in g/dL.

Serum globulins concentration

Serum globulins levels were ascertained by using the equation:

Globulins = Total proteins – Albumin

And the values are expressed in g/dL.

Serum transaminases (GOT & GPT)

Serum transaminases (GOT & GPT) were determined by the method of Reitman and Frankel (Raja & Ravindranadh, 2017) by the addition of reagents present in reagent kit (Span Diagnostic Ltd). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 505 nm. Data were communicated as IUL^-1.

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was ascertained by the method of Kind & King by the addition of reagents present in reagent kit (Span Diagnostic Ltd). The absorbance of standard and test against reagent blank were measured at 640 nm. Data were communicated as UL^-1.

Serum bilirubin

Serum bilirubin was evaluated by method of Malloy and Evelyn (Malloy & Evelyn, 1937). The two test tubes were taken and each into was added 0.2 ml of serum test and 1.8 ml of distilled water. To the obscure, 0.5 ml of diazo reagent and to the blank, 0.5 ml of 1.5 % HCl was included.

At last, to each tube, 2.5 ml of methanol was added and afterward permitted to represent 30 min in ice and absorbance was perused at 540nm. For a standard curve, the above standard was weakened 1 out of 5 ml methanol. The measure of direct responding bilirubin was resolved also by subbing 2.5 ml of water for 2.5 ml of methanol. Qualities were communicated as mg/dl.

Hematological analysis

Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, haemoglobin (Hg) and mean cell volume (MCV) were ascertained with a semi-automated analyzer.

Statistical analysis

All investigations information were communicated as mean ± standard error mean (SEM). This statistical analysis was done utilizing one-way ANOVA strategy followed by Dunnet-t test with SPSS statistical programming for correlation with the control group. p≤0.05 was considered as statistical significant.

Results and Discussion

In the Indian frameworks of medication, the greater part of the experts detail and apportion their own plans without legitimate proof; thus this require appropriate documentation and research (Stephen & Richard, 2004). India is the biggest maker of therapeutic spices and is appropriately called the botanical garden of the world (Ahmedulla & Nayar, 1999).

Acute oral toxicity study

The acute oral toxicity study was done on albino rats of either sex at single portion of chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata at 5000 mg/kg body weight and persistently checked for 14 days according to OECD rules 425. During this investigation period all the animals were watched for its conduct and its mortality.

All the exploratory rats shows ordinary conduct in their consciousness, touch response, sleeping duration, movement, holding quality, righting reflex, food admission, water utilization, pinna reflex, corneal reflex, salivation, skin shading and sound reaction, and there was missing in reactions, for example, grooming, tremors, diarrhea, hyper movement, lethargy, convulsions and morbidity as appeared in Table 1.

Likewise all the tested rats made due till the fulfillment of the investigation time frame (14 days) at all degrees of treatment. Along these lines, this outcome says that there was no aggravation in carbohydrate, protein, fat and some other metabolisms (Klaassen, 2013).

The chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata at 5000 mg/kg body weight given orally is by all accounts safe and the LD₅₀ was considered be >5000 mg/kg body weight.

Every one of these outcomes will propose that the chloroform and methanol concentrates of Barleria cuspidata at 5000 mg/kg body weight for all intents and purposes non-toxic at single oral dose.

Sub-chronic toxicity study

Sub-chronic toxicity studies was therefore execute with chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata at the doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight as per the OECD guidelines 407.

Analysis of body weights

The outcomes in of any adjustments in body weight of each experimental rat in group at first and for like clockwork span (30 days) till the most recent day of examination are appeared in Table 2. There were no critical contrasts in mean body weight among the diverse treated groups and the control despite the fact that there will be increment in body weights steadily. These outcomes demonstrated that the chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata has immaterial degrees of harmfulness on the development of the animals.

Measurement of organ weights

The results in of any changes in relative organ weights of each experimental rat in group at end of the experimentation are shown in Table 3. The weights of vital organs such as liver, lungs, kidneys and heart were found normal and there were no significant changes in their weight which indicates that nontoxic effect in both control and treated group. The no significance changes in organ weights and it provides support for the safety of Barleria cuspidata.

Serum biochemical parameters

The consequences of serum biochemical parameters, for example, glucose, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, ALP and electrolytes are recorded in Table 6; Table 5; Table 4. Following 90 days of study period, the serum biochemical parameters, for example, SGOT, SGPT, ALP and Bilirubin of rewarded group don't show significance when contrasted and that of control group. The estimations of these biochemical parameters typically quantifies as markers of the best possible liver capacity (Yu et al., 2012). In addition, levels of serum total protein, albumin and globulin demonstrated no significant when contrasted the rewarded group animals and that of control group animals. Hypo-proteinaemia, a typical finding in liver damage (Larrey, 2002), was additionally not seen in present examination. Additionally, the degrees of creatinine were not essentially extraordinary between the control and test group of rats. The estimations of serum creatinine will gauges the best possible capacity of urinary framework (Jia et al., 2014), thus with no criticalness in serum creatinine levels of experimental animals shows the correct working of urinary framework in animals rewarded with Barleria cuspidata.

Further, there was no significant in glucose levels in the treated groups when contrasted with the control group which likewise demonstrates for typical working of liver.

Likewise the serum levels of electrolytes, for example, phosphorus, chloride and calcium indicated no importance contrast when contrasted the rewarded group animals and that of control group animals. Which shows that chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata was protected concerning that of the electrolyte levels.

Hematological parameters

The consequences of hematological parameters, for example, RBC, WBC, platelets, hemoglobin and MCV are recorded in Table 7. The hematological parameters, for example, RBC, WBC, platelets, hemoglobin and mean cell volume indicated no centrality when rewarded group animals are contrasted and that of control group animals. Administration of any compound or medication or plant extracts can bring about loss of blood cells and/or hindrance of blood cell synthesis and diminishing in such hematological parameters in experimental animals has been related with anemia (Onyeyilli, Iwuoha, & Akinniya, 1998). The bone marrow is liable for the creation of the blood cell and a few phytochemicals disconnected from plant extracts will influence blood cell levels (Kofi, Laud, Wonder, & Eric, 2014). As the tested plant extracts didn't show any of unsafe impacts on bone marrow work, with that we may legitimize for all the portions of chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata didn't initiate anemia and making it ok for use in this regard.

Histology study

Histological investigations of liver, kidney, lungs, heart and cerebrum tissues in chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata rewarded rats are appeared from Figure 5; Figure 4; Figure 3; Figure 2; Figure 1, which shows no variations from the norm when contrasted the treated and that of control. In this way, Histopathological assessment of chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata didn't show any unfavorable impact on morphology of tissues which bolsters the biochemical outcomes referenced previously. Hence, it is inferred that Barleria cuspidata didn't create any harmful impact in albino rats of either sex.

Conclusions

The aftereffects of acute oral toxicity study and sub-chronic toxicity study of chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata shows no noteworthy contrasts in hematological and biochemical tests in the rewarded groups on contrasted and that of control and it was proposed the degree of wellbeing of Barleria cuspidata on animals. Accordingly, the outcome shows that the chloroform and methanol extracts of Barleria cuspidata might be protected and furthermore gives the data to the utilization of Barleria cuspidata for additional examinations and as an elective arrangement of medication.