Unripe Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Aqueous Extract (UPAE) for the acute toxicity test on fatty liver changes

Abstract

We investigated whether the oral ingestion of aqueous extract of unripe papaya fruit (UPAE), would also induce fatty liver changes by analysing the UPAE-treated mice qualitatively. This study used laboratory experiments which performed by a proposed (new) recommended method with 11 subjects of female mice which were administered with single oral doses of 0; 50; 200; 400; 800; 1, 000; 1, 500; 2, 000; 3, 000; 4, 000; 5, 000 mg/kg respectively. All these mice were euthanized after 24 hours of UPAE administration. Histopathological studies were conducted using liver samples which were stained by Haematoxylin-Eosin (HE). The UPAE did not cause death in all doses but did induce hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis at 4, 000 and 5, 000 mg/kg dosages. Ballooning degeneration, necroinflammation and portal fibrosis revealed at 200 - 5, 000 mg/kg. These findings suggest that the UPAE provoked the fatty liver changes at the highest dose administration. It may be obtained from a multiple hit process by the accumulation of the phytochemical compounds of UPAE.