The acute toxicity study of methanolic extract of
Asparagus pubescens
root was studied on rats. The indices of the study were the liver enzymes (transaminases), cholesterol, creatinine and urea serum levels as well as the ionic analysis. Both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed a significant (p<0.01-0.001) non dose-dependent increases in serum levels. There was a dose-dependent increase in cholesterol serum level (p
+) and Hydrogen carbonate (HC03-) ions showed non-discriminatory rise relative to control while converse was correct for Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl-) ions. The physical signs of toxicity ranged from decreased motor activity, loss of appetite to increased respiratory rate which was followed by restlessness, gasping and death. The effects may in part be due to its chemical (steroid) constituent.
