Abstract: Objective　To explore the effects of repeated administration of Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract on rat body weight, blood indicators and histopathology.Methods　A total of 120 SD rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and low-, medium-, and high-dose groups treated with Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract. The control group was orally fed with animal drinking water, while the low, medium and high dose groups were orally fed with 8.50, 17.0 and 34.0 g/(kg·bw) raw drug of Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract respectively per day for 30 consecutive days. The general conditions, rat body weight, blood indicators and liver histopathological changes of rats during the administration period and recovery period were observed.Results　During the administration period, no obvious adverse reactions occurred in each group of rats, and the body weight increased normally. Compared with the control group, after 30 days of administration, the red blood cells (RBC) in the medium and high-dose groups of male mice increased (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the control group, during the recovery period, the ALTs in the low, medium and high dose groups of female rats decreased (P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01); the GGTs in the medium dose group decreased (P<0.05).Histopathological examination of the liver tissue after 30 days of administration showed focal inflammatory cell infiltration in the low and medium dose groups, as well as focal inflammatory cell infiltration and a large number of fat cells in the high dose group, with fatty degeneration of hepatocytes. During the recovery period, the degree of lesion in the low and medium dose groups was significantly reduced compared to the administration period, with no fatty degeneration observed. However, in the high dose group, focal inflammatory cell infiltration and a large number of fat cells were seen in the liver.Conclusion　Long term high-dose administration of Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract can lead to pathological changes in rat liver, and its hepatotoxicity is dose- and time-dependent. The maximum non-toxic dose is 17.0 g/(kg· bw) (100 times of the clinical dosage). When using Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract clinically, it is necessary to strictly control the dose and course of treatment, and closely monitor liver function-related indicators.

Key words: tribulus terrestris, rat, body weight, blood index, histopathology

摘要： 目的　探讨蒺藜水提物重复给药后对大鼠体质量、血液指标及组织病理学的影响。方法　将120只SD大鼠 (雌雄各半)随机分为对照组和蒺藜水提物低、中、高剂量组。对照组灌胃给予动物饮用水,低、中、高剂量组分别每 日灌胃给予蒺藜水提物8.50、17.0、34.0 g生药/(kg·bw),连续给药30d,观察给药期及恢复期大鼠的一般状况、大 鼠体质量、血液指标及肝组织病理学改变。结果　给药期间各组大鼠均未出现明显不良反应,体质量增长正常。 给药30d后,与对照组比较,雄鼠中、高剂量组红细胞(RBC)升高(P<0.05,P<0.01)、红细胞平均体积(MCV)降低 (P<0.05,P<0.01);恢复期雌鼠低剂量组血小板(PLT)降低(P<0.01),雄鼠低剂量组平均血红蛋白量(MCH)降低 (P<0.05)。恢复期雌鼠低、中、高剂量组丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)降低(P<0.05,P<0.05,P<0.01);中剂量组γ-谷氨酰 转肽酶(GGT)降低(P<0.05)。组织病理学检查发现,给药30d肝组织病理学检查可见低、中剂量组灶状炎细胞浸 润,高剂量组灶状炎细胞浸润及大量的脂肪细胞,肝细胞脂肪变性;恢复期低、中剂量组病变程度明显比给药期减 轻,未见脂肪变性;高剂量组可见肝灶状炎细胞浸润及大量脂肪细胞。结论　长期大剂量给予蒺藜水提物可导致 大鼠肝病理学改变,其肝毒性具有剂量和时间依赖性,其最大无毒性剂量为17.0 g/(kg·bw)(临床用量的100倍)。 临床使用蒺藜水提物时需严格控制剂量和疗程,并密切监测肝功能相关指标。

关键词: 蒺藜, 大鼠, 体质量, 血液指标, 组织病理学