Evaluation of Toxicity of the Methanolic Root Extract of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre Used for Fertility Regulation during Early Gestational Period in Female Albino Mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Persicaria hydropiper is a medicinal herb that also holds significant culinary value in Southeast Asia. Among the Mishing tribe of Assam, the roots of this plant are traditionally used for female contraception. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicological effects of the methanolic root extract of P. hydropiper , which was administered to female mice to prevent conception. Materials and Methods: The assessment included acute toxicity tests, behavioural studies, biochemical analyses (SGOT and SGPT levels), histological examinations of the liver and kidney and genotoxicity tests using micronucleus assays. Results: No notable signs of acute or behavioural toxicity were observed in extract-treated mice. In fact, treated groups exhibited central nervous system stimulating and anxiolytic effects at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. A significant increase in locomotor activity was recorded on Day 1, Day 5, Day 6 and in ovariectomized (OVX) mice (81.7±0.40, 80.8±0.72, 82.0±0.26 and 80.3±0.15 cases/5 min, respectively), along with higher head-dip counts on Day 1, Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6 (34.5±0.43, 35.1±0.28, 35.0±0.26 and 33.6±1.45, respectively). Histological sections of liver and kidney tissues revealed nearly normal structures. Genotoxicity evaluations showed no significant variation in micronucleus frequency. However, a marked increase in SGOT was detected in ovariectomized females (123.65±2.86 IU/l), while SGPT levels rose in the Day 1, 2, 3 and 6 treated groups (52.52±1.81, 52.01±1.95, 54.84±2.00 and 49.37±1.78, respectively), suggesting mild hepatotoxic effects. Conclusion: Studies on the toxicological aspects of any traditional medicine are necessary for the proper formulation of a drug. Most of the parameters selected for toxicity detection showed no significant alteration between the control and treated mice groups. Only mild hepatotoxicity was observed in the extract-treated group of female albino mice. Moreover, some improvements in terms of exploratory behaviour could be observed in the treated groups. Thus, the extract may be considered low or non-toxic at this present dose. Further studies are necessary to investigate toxicological impacts on other tissues and to identify the potentially toxic compounds within the extract, which could aid in the development of antifertility agents derived from this plant.