Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Food Safety and Hygiene 2476-3241 5 3 2020 10 07 235 235 Harjit Bajwa Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. Oinam Santosh Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. Ashwani Koul Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. Madho Bisht Department of Environmental Studies, NEHU, Shillong, India. Chongtham Nirmala Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. 2020 03 07 2020 10 06 Bamboo shoot (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii), the young tender and immature culm is being considered as a complete health food due to its high nutritional and bioactive content. Although, freshly harvested bamboo shoots are nutritionally richer; anti-nutritional factors and toxicity in fresh shoots used for consumption are a matter of concern. This study was conducted to evaluate the sub-acute oral toxicity of aqueous extract in shoots of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii. The bamboo shoot extract was administered orally to Balb/c mice at doses of 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg, bodyweight for 28 days. Results revealed a significant enhancement in the level of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase accompanied by a significant reduction in the level of lipid peroxidation. A dose-dependent increase was observed in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase while a marked reduction was seen in the activity of enzyme catalase. None of any mortality and behavioral changes was observed. At higher dose (1600 mg/kg, body weight) the level of serum creatinine, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly, however, the histo-architecture of liver and kidney was normal. Therefore, it is concluded that the medium-term oral administration of the bamboo shoot extract for 28 days does not cause toxicity. https://jfsh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jfsh/article/view/235 https://jfsh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jfsh/article/download/235/117