Acute toxicity and histopathological assesment of methanolic extract of Cleome viscosa Linn. whole plant

Abstract

Cleome viscosa Linn (cleomaceae) is a medicinal plant used widely in ethnomedicine. This research was carried out to evaluate the toxicity of the methanolic whole plant extract in mice using modified Lorke's method. Sixteen albino mice were administered different doses (10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, 1600 mg/kg, 2900 mg/kg, 5000 mg/kg and distilled water as control) orally for 14 days. Signs of toxicity (ataxia, lethargy, asthenia and sleeping) weight gain, mean organ-body weight ratio (OBR) and absolute organ weight were noted. The median lethal dose was also determined. After 14 days, the animals were sacrificed through cervical dislocation and vital organs (Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidney and Spleen) were examined histopathologicaly.