Acute oral toxicity test from leaf exudates of 17 Aloe species from East and South of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopian Aloe species were used for diverse traditional medicines but some species have been reported for potential toxicity. Therefore, oral acute toxicity test were done from leaf exudates of 17 Aloe species using Swiss albino mice (n = 5/cage). A single oral dose of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight at a rate of 1 mL/100 gm administered and major toxicity symptoms were monitored; and relative body and organs weights were measured daily until day 14. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Groups treated with exudates of Aloe calidophila, A. trichosantha subsp. longiflora, A. megalacantha subsp. alticola, A. megalacantha subsp. megalacantha, A. otallensis, A. pubescens, A. rivae, A. rugosifolia, A. secundiflora, A. tewoldei and A. yavellana did not showed any signs of toxicity at both dose levels. These groups showed no significance difference (P > .05) in percentage body weight, relative organs weight and food and water consumption compared to control group and Median Lethal Oral Dose (LD50-value) was estimated to be > 2000 mg/kg body weight. Groups treated with A. harlana, A. mcloughlinii, A. pirottae and unidentified/AHU53 showed overt signs of toxicity and significance difference (P   300 mg/kg body weight. This acute oral toxicity test revealed the importance of safety concern while using Aloe species in traditional medicines.