Assessing Acute Toxicity of Opuntia monacantha (Mudhorofiya) as a Potential Nutraceutical for the Management of Chronic Diseases, Including Diabetes. · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Muurawa, Tadiwa

Title

Assessing Acute Toxicity of Opuntia monacantha (Mudhorofiya) as a Potential Nutraceutical for the Management of Chronic Diseases, Including Diabetes.

Abstract

Opuntia monacantha, a cactus found in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, has long been used to treat chronic conditions like diabetes. However, nothing is known about its safety profile, which prevents it from becoming a reliable nutraceutical. This study looked at the acute oral toxicity and basic phytochemical composition of O. monacantha leaf extract in order to evaluate its potential as a diabetes-supportive nutraceutical. After utilizing 70% methanol for solvent extraction, 12.2 g of crude extract (6.10% yields) was obtained from 200 g of powdered O. monacantha leaves. A number of bioactive substances, including alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, and phenols, were detected by phytochemical screening; however, steroids and sapponins were not found. Bulb C mice were used to assess acute toxicity in accordance with OECD recommendations. A control group (distilled water), a diabetes model group (alloxan-induced), and treatment groups that received 500, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg of the extract were the five groups of mice. There was no mortality in either the 500 mg/kg or control groups. Death rates rose as dosage increased, reaching 1.33 and 3.33 fatalities at 2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg, respectively. The mortality difference between groups was statistically significant, as proven by a one-way ANOVA (F = 42.98, p < 0.05). Intake of water and feed also decreased dramatically at increasing dosages; the group receiving 5000 mg/kg had the lowest intake (2.67 g feed, 6 ml water). ANOVA studies verified that these changes were statistically significant for both water (F = 79.28, p = 0.000000156) and feed (F = 25.72, p = 0.00003). The LD₅₀ was calculated using probit analysis to be 2300 mg/kg, which suggests modest acute toxicity. Conclusion: Although O. monacantha contains phytochemicals that are helpful, at high quantities it shows harmful effects that are dependent on dose. These results lend credence to its possible application as a diabetes nutraceutical; however, dose needs to be closely monitored to guarantee safety.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Acute Toxicity

Nutraceutical

Chronic Diseases

Opuntia Monacantha

Supervisor

Dr. N. Mgocheki