There is a paucity of data on the occurrence of hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in medicinal plants, and there are no data on the hepatotoxic properties of herbal medicines that are used in the traditional pharmacopoiea of Sri Lanka and other Asian and African countries. In view of the extensive consumption of these herbs and the occurrence of chronic liver diseases including hepatocellular cancer in this and other countries of South Asia, we have screened fifty medicinal plants for pyrrolizidine alkaloids and have obtained positive results with three species, namely Crotalaria verrucosa L., Holarrhena antidysenterica (L.) Br., and Cassia auriculata L. Feeding trials in rats with materials from these three species produced liver lesions--disruption of the centrilobular veins, congestion or haemorrhage in the centrilobular sinusoids, centrilobular or focal hepatocellular necrosis--and histopathology in the lungs and kidneys which were compatible with the action of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The presence of alkaloids in C. auriculata has not been previously reported nor has the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in H. antidysenterica. It is suggested that the consumption of herbal medicines that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids could contribute to the high incidence of chronic liver disease including primary hepatocellular
Some of Medicinal Plants -
- Rath Handun (Red Sandalwood)
- Masbedda (Sugar Destroyer)
- Kothala- himbutu
- Sudu Handun (White Sandalwood)
- Amukkara
- Thabili (King coconut)
- Kurudu (Cinnamon varieties)
- Ranawara
- Beli
- Akaveriya
- Nil Awariya
- Netul species
- Akmalla
- Kolankola
- Nelli
- Aralu
- Beli- mal
- Ranawara
- Pol- pala
Iramusu- Neeramulliya
- Kothalahimbutu
- Masbedda
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