Acute and Chronic Toxicity Study of Piper betle L. Leaf Extract kaarsueksaakhwaamepnphisechiiybphlanaelaphiseruue`rangkh`ngsaarskadaibphluu (Piper betle L.
Piper betle leaf extract (Piper betle L. is widely used in human and animal products. To determine the safety of the extract in terms of acute and chronic toxicity (6 months) The crude extract was prepared via the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using carbon dioxide and ethanol as a cosolvent. The oral administration was then performed in female ICR mice and both sexes of Wistar rats, respectively. The acute toxicity results revealed that the extract produced no acute toxicity in ICR mice when orally given at individual doses of 300 and 2,000 mg/kg. The chronic toxicity study at doses 3, 30 and 300 mg/kg/day showed that there were no effects on cumulative clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, relative organ weights and hematological values. The electrolyte imbalance showed significant increase in sodium, chloride, calcium and phosphorus in a dose dependent manner in both sexes. In addition, there were a slight increase in serum ALT of female recovery group (300 mg/kg/day) and a remarkable mild hepatitis lesion in female rats receiving 300 mg/kg/day and in recovery group. Thus, the application of the so called extract in food and drug should be surveillance on the electrolyte system as well as the hepatic function. Key words: Piper betle L. acute and chronic toxicity, ICR mice, Wistar rat