Ninety day repeated gavage administration of Hipphophae rhamnoides extract in rats

Hippophae rhamnoides, is a high altitude plant, possesses immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and adaptogenic activity and is widely used in treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to ascertain the safety of aqueous extract of H. rhamnoides fruit when administered by gavage to rats for 90 days. Four groups of animals, each consisting of 15 males and 15 females, were adminstered 0, 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg extract, in a single dose/day. There were no treatment related change in mean body weight, organ/body weight ratio, histological, hematological and biochemical parameters studied in rats of either sex administered with extract at any dose evaluated. However, a significant increase in plasma glucose levels was observed in animals supplemented with 250 or 500 mg/kg extract, which returned to normal after a 2-week withdrawal of treatment. These results indicate no adverse effects of extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight/day in rats administered for 90-days. Based on the findings of this study, the NOAEL was 100 mg/kg body weight/day of aqueous fruit extract of seabuckthorn in rats.