Evaluation of acute and sub-acute toxicity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Capparis tomentosa Lam. in swiss albino mice

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity of crude hydro-alcholic extract of Capparis tomentosa in Swiss albino mice. In studying the toxicity, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines was used. Experimental animals (mice), five mice in each, were grouped into four groups; three experimental groups and one negative control. In studying the acute toxicity, up to 5000 mg/kg crude hydro-alcholic plant extract was given orally using standard intragastric oral gavage. For acute toxicity a single dose was given and gross behavioral change such as inflexibility, irritability, jumping and mortality were recorded. In sub-acute oral toxicity test, C. tomentosa crude extract was given to the mice by standard intragastric oral gavage at doses of 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg body weight every single to 28 days and various hematological parameters were recorded. In acute toxicity, the given dose of the plant extract did not produce significant gross behavioral changes, except slight sleep, inflexibility and sedation at the dose of 3000mg/kg and 5000mg/kgt extracts. However, no death was occurred in the given doses. Therefore, the present study showed that the crude hydro-alcoholic extract of C. tomentosa plant did not produce any significant acute and sub-acute toxicity effect in the experimental animals and this may confirm use of the plant in traditional medicines.