Acute Toxicity Study of Standardized Faloak Bark ( Sterculia quadrifida R. Br.) Extract on Wistar Rats

Abstract

The bark of Faloak (Sterculia quadrifida R. Br., Malvaceae) is used for traditional medicine in Indonesia. This study aims to examine the level of toxicity of the Faloak bark standardized ethanolic extract. The barks were collected from East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. TLC profile was determined by TLC-densitometry, total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined in ethanolic extract from bark of faloak (S.quadrifida) by UV-V is method. The acute toxicity was performed according to the TD420 method by OECD (2001) on Wistar rats. The animals were grouped into control and treatment groups (2000 mg/kg body weight). All animals were evaluated for possible toxicity signs by measuring body weight, food and water consumption, and histopathological observation. The result of mean concentration of total phenolic content was found to be 17,69±2,01 (%GAE) and concentration of total flavonoid content was found to be 8,56 ± 0,02 (%NE). The results showed that no mortality occurs after 14 days of treatment. In general, no significant changes in animal behavior, body weight, food and water consumption compared to the control group. Histological observation found no sign of toxicity on vital organs. LD50 values obtained from the acute toxicity test results for Faloak ethanol extract (Sterculia quadrifida R. Bark) are higher than 2,000 mg/kg BW and categorized as having a low level of toxicity.