Oral acute, sub-acute toxicity and phytochemical profile of Brassica carinata A. Braun microgreens ethanolic extract in Wistar rats

Currently, there is a remarkable increase in the consumption of microgreens, (young edible vegetables or herbs), as potential nutraceuticals for the management of diseases. Brassica carinata A. Braun is one of the traditional leafy vegetables cultivated in various parts of Sub- Saharan Africa. The plant is revered for its efficacy in the treatment of wounds and gastrointestinal disorders among other medicinal benefits. It is therefore crucial to characterize Brassica carinata microgreens for their phytoconstituents and ascertain their safety for use. The study evaluated the oral acute and subacute toxicity of Brassica carinata microgreens ethanol extract (BMEE) in Wistar rats and identification of its chemical composition and profile. For acute toxicity (14 days), rats were grouped into four and received a single oral dose, the control group received distilled water, while others received 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg of BMEE. For the subacute toxicity (28 days), rats in four groups received daily doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg and distilled water. Daily clinical observations like lethargy and mortality were conducted. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed at the end of each experiment. Phytochemical profile was determined using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis determined the potential bioactive components in the microgreens extract. In both acute and sub-acute toxicity studies, no mortalities, indications of abnormality, or any treatment related adverse effects were observed at doses of 2000 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. The LD50 of BMEE was above 2000 mg/kg. No significant (p > 0.05) changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of the treated groups compared to the control groups in both studies. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, lungs, and heart revealed a normal architecture of the tissues in all the treated animals. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids (most abundant), phenols and alkaloids. Phytol, linoleic acid, and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, among other compounds, were identified by GC-MS analysis. The results showed that B. carinata microgreens ethanol extract is nontoxic and found to have several compounds with reported pharmacological significance suggesting safety for use.