Acute toxicity evaluation of Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae)

Abstract

</I>;The specie G. americana L. (Rubiaceae) is an exotic plant with edible fruit, aphrodisiac, antianaemic and useful in diseases of the spleen and liver. The objective of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of crude ethanol extract of the fruit of G. americana parameters by evaluating general toxicity. For the tests were selected Swiss albino mice of the species Mus musculus females, weighing 25–30g were divided into groups of six. The animals were kept in polypropylene cages under controlled lighting (cycle 12 hours light/dark) and temperature (25 ± 2 °C), receiving food and water ad libtum. The doses of 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally (VIP) and 1500, 3000 and 4500 mg/kg orally. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) was not determined due to lack of deaths of the animals at the doses employed, being regarded maximal for the route. Among the signs of toxicity observed highlight the stimulating effect on the CNS. The results indicate that the ethanol extract of G. americana has low acute toxicity in mice when administered by oral and intraperitoneal administration.