Sunanta Pongsamart, Achara Tawatsin, and Suchada Sukrong

pp. 649 - 661

Abstract

Consumptive safety studies of durian polysaccharide gel were performed in mice. The polysaccharide
gel, DF_II and DF_I , were given orally for 60 and 100 days to male and female groups, respectively. The
oral doses of 0.25 g/kg/d of DF_II or DF_I or standard polysaccharide pectin or a high dose of 0.5 g/kg/d of
DF_II , were given to test groups. Food and water were given ad libitum. The results indicated that no toxic
effect was induced in treated mice. Relative body weight gain profile in treated mice was not different
(p>0.05) from its control. However, the lowest mean values of relative weight gain were obtained at finale
in male and female groups treated with 0.5 g/kg/d of DF_II. Other pathological effects were examined by
clinical analysis of animal blood and serum. Normal hematologic results and clinical data of glucose,
cholesterol, creatinine and BUN in treated groups were found and was not significantly different (p>0.05)
from those of control and/or standard groups. However, mean values of serum cholesterol in DF_II- and
DF_I - treated groups were rather low in comparison to their control and standard. The serum enzymes ALP,
AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) were examined for detection of any pathological changes of the liver. No
significant elevation of these enzymes (p>0.05) in DF_II- and DF_I - treated groups was observed in comparison to those of standard and control groups. This finding suggests that liver injury did not occur in treated
mice. The relative liver weights of treated mice were not different (p>0.05) from those of control male
mice, while lower relative liver weights (p≤0.05) were obtained in female treated and standard groups
when compared to their control. Normal number and growth rate of offspring were obtained in DF_II- and
DF_I - treated and control female groups. Subchronic toxicity in this study suggests that polysaccharide
gel from fruit-hulls of durian at oral doses of 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg/d could be consumed safely for a long period
of 60-100 days in male and female mice.