Authors : M.S. Gulay, O. Yildiz-Gulay, A. Ata, A. Balic and A. Demirtas
Abstract: The carob tree (Ceratonia silique) grows naturally in Mediterranean region. The empiric use of carob cures by boiling the fruit of carob is very common in Turkey for its effects on asthma, diarrhea and aphrodisiac properties. Yet, there is no study in the literature available about carobs’ toxicological safety evaluation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if there was any toxic effect of carob bean extract >49 days period in rabbits. Male New Zealand White rabbits (6-8 months old) were divided into two groups of 8 rabbits. Rabbits in the control group received 10 cc tap water. Rabbits in the treatment group received 10 cc of carob cures by boiling the fruit of carob. The results indicated that feed intake and body weights did not changed due to treatment. Hematological parameters and enzyme concentrations were similar and within the normal range for rabbits in both groups. Liver, kidney, lung, brain and heart weights between control and treatment groups were not significant. Moreover, no apparent changes in liver, kidney, lung, brain, heart and testes were detected by gross post mortem and histopatological examination to suggest toxic effect of oral use of carob extract for 49 days. The results suggested that traditional use of carob cures to male New Zealand White rabbits did not cause any toxicological effects and can be used for human consumption.
M.S. Gulay, O. Yildiz-Gulay, A. Ata, A. Balic and A. Demirtas, 2012. Toxicological Evaluation of Carob (Ceratonia silique) Bean Extracts in Male New Zealand White Rabbits. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 1853-1857.