Toxicological Evaluation and Central Nervous System Depressant Activities of Lizard Dung in Rat Model

Abstract

Globally, the abuse of psychoactive substances continues to rise at astronomical levels. The use of reptiles such as the lizard or their dung for euphoric purposes is highly unconventional and an available literature search revealed a lack of studies on the toxicity or central nervous system (CNS) activity of lizard dung. We, therefore, assessed the toxicity and CNS activity of lizard dung in Wistar rats via oral and inhalational routes. Conventional models of tail suspension, forced swim, elevated plus maze, hole board, and sodium pentobarbital-induced sleeping time tests were used for CNS assessment. The lizard dung was orally administered at doses of 125, 250 and 500mg/kg. The inhalational experimental groups received 0.5g, 1.0g and 2.0g of the white and black sample in a smoke chamber. Following a 28-day toxicity study, no mortality was observed for all doses of the test substance administered via both routes. Significant changes in serum urea, creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were recorded. Mixed inflammatory infiltrates and oedema were observed in the lungs of the group that received 1.0g inhalation of the darkish part of the lizard dung. Oral and inhalational administrations of whitish and darkish parts of lizard dung produced alteration in general behavioural patterns of rats including a dose- and route-of-administration-dependent reduction in the exploratory behaviour, as well as potentiation of phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time. Our findings indicate depression of the CNS and support the claims about the use of lizard dung as a substance of abuse.