Table 3 Toxicologic and teratogenic data of the most utilized plants used for anemia in the Philippines

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam

Preclinical study

In vitro: L929 fibroblasts

MTT assay: aqueous extracts from the leaves of purple and white varieties of I. batatas at 50, 100, and 1000 g/mL concentrations were exposed to the cells

27 h

At a concentration of 1000 µg/mL, the extract from the purple variety had no cytotoxic potential, but the extract from the white variety did. The viability of the white variety was 86.37% at 50 µg/mL, 89.58% at 100 µg/mL, and 56.66% at 1000 µg/mL. As a result, the highest concentration proved to be potentially cytotoxic, as it was less than 70%

Moura (2020) [26]

Momordica charantia L.

Preclinical study

In vivo: pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats

Water extracts of the whole unripe fruit (unspecified dosage) were administered to eight groups of rats at days 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of gestation, respectively

22 days

The extract's teratogenic effects were determined by the day of gestation on which it was administered. Most malformations occurred on days 7, 11, and 13 of gestation. Reproductive organs were affected the most. Weight loss was observed in the brain, liver, kidney, lung, and spleen, while the weight of the heart increased

Uche-Nwachi (2009) [27]

Moringa oleifera Lam

Preclinical study

In vivo: Sprague–Dawley rats

Two groups of rats were orally given doses of 1000 mg/kg body weight and 3000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of aqueous leaf extract. After 48 h, the mice were euthanized, and the femur bone marrow aspirate was examined

14 days

No mortality, behavioral changes, or adverse hematological effects were recorded. It was cytotoxic at 20 mg/mL and genotoxic at supra-supplementation levels of 3000 mg/kg b.wt

Asare (2012) [29]

Preclinical study

In vivo: Wistar albino rats

Acute oral toxicity test: aqueous-methanolic leaf extract was given orally at a 2000 mg/kg dose for 48 h to establish the median fatal dose

–

No toxic manifestations or mortality at 2000 mg/kg. However, it has potentially toxic effects at higher doses

Okumu (2016) [28]

Preclinical study

In vivo: zebrafish embryo

10 ml of the different concentrations of leaves and bark extracts (300 ppm, 1500 ppm, 3000 ppm, and 6000 ppm) were prepared by dilution in embryo water

12, 24, and 48 h

Teratogenicity is evident due to the embryos’ low hatchability percentage, lack of or low heartbeat rate, growth retardation, and morphological abnormalities, including yolk deformity and a stunted tail. After 12 and 24 h, it is highly toxic to embryos

David (2016) [30]