Safety of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) a gray ethanol extracts in diabetic-induced rats

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley A. Gray) leaves have been studied to have antihyperglycemic activity and improve insulin sensitivity. However, these leaves extracts also have activity as a cytotoxic agent so the safety of its use as an antidiabetic needs to be proven. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the safety of T. diversifolia leaves extracts at therapeutic doses against the liver, kidneys, and aorta of diabetic-induced rats. This study involved 30 male Wistar rats, 25 of which were diabetic-induced with a combination of nicotinamide 230 mg/kg and streptozotocin 65 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. Rats were reported diabetic if their fasting plasma glucose level was more than 150 mg/dL three weeks after induction. The rats were then divided into six groups, namely the normal group (not diabetic-induced), the diabetic group, the metformin group (300 mg/kg), and the group that was given extracts of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively. Blood specimen collections were performed before study and after 28 days treatment to analyze the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and creatinine. At the end of the treatment, the rats were terminated for liver, kidney, and aortic organ harvesting which were then put in formalin solution for making preparations with Haemotoxylin-Eosin staining. The results showed that the levels of ALT, AST, and creatinine of all rats showed no significant difference between before and after treatment (P-value>0.05). These results were also supported by the histology of the liver, kidney, and aorta which also showed normal examinations in all treatment groups. In conclusion, the administration of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of T. diversifolia is safe to administer up to a dose of 150 mg/kg in diabetic-induced rats. © 2023 Author(s).