ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEArtocarpus lacucha Buch. -Ham. (syn. Artocarpus lakoocha) (A. lacucha), is a tropical fruit tree and a member of the Moraceae family. Fruit, bark, foliage, and roots of A. lacucha are broadly utilized in folklore medicine to treat various metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. The bark of A. lacucha has demonstrated antimicrobial and antinociceptive effects.AIM OF THE STUDYThe study investigated the toxicity of A. lacucha ethyl acetate bark extract (AL-EAE) employing both in vitro and in vivomodels.MATERIALS AND METHODSAL-EAE was extracted by soxhlation of powdered bark. The phytochemical fingerprint of AL-EAE was established employing LC-MS technique. The presence of heavy metals was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Cytotoxicity of AL-EAE (3.9-250 μg/mL) was evaluated by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). The acute oral toxicity of AL-EAE was ascertained by administering 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg B.W. doses in rats of both sexes. Rats were treated with AL-EAE orally at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg B.W. doses on a daily basis for 28 days in order to evaluate subacute toxicity. Clinical and toxicological parameters were noted after every 24 h. After the course of treatment, the safety of AL-EAE was evaluated by investigating various biochemical, haematological, and histopathological markers.RESULTSLC-MS analysis indicates the presence of phenols and flavonoids in A. lacucha bark extracts. AAS analysis revealed the safety limits of heavy metals in AL-EAE as recommended by ICH. AL-EAE was not found cytotoxic in HEK293 cells (IC50 more than 250 μg/mL). No adverse clinical syndromes or mortality were observed in the acute toxicity study. The alterations in body weight (B.W.) and relative organ weights (ROWs) were found to be non-significant. In the sub-acute toxicity assessment, changes in food intake and mild diarrhoea were observed at 600 mg/kg/day B.W. Changes in ROWs at 600 mg/kg/day and B.W. at 400 and 600 mg/kg/day dose were observed. However, significant alterations in biochemical (TG, VLDL, AST, and ALP) and haematological (haemoglobin, MCHC, eosinophils, monocyte) parameters were observed at 400 and 600 mg/kg/day B.W. doses. Histopathological studies illustrated significant inflammation in the liver, pancreas, and spleen at 600 mg/kg/day B.W. doses.CONCLUSIONThe findings demonstrated that AL-EAE did not possess cytotoxicity in vitro. In both acute and subacute toxicity studies, AL-EAE was shown to be nontoxic, where 400 mg/kg/day was the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) dosage in rodents.