ORAL ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF ANNONA SQUAMOSA L. LEAVES EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS IN ALBINO MICE

Abstract

The medicinal plants have been used traditionally for different purposes such as pest control and treatment of human diseases. Despite these potentials, only few plants have been evaluated for their safety. This study aimed at investigating oral acute toxicity of Annona squamosa leaf extract and fractions using albino mice. The aqueous-ethanol, dichloromethane and petroleum ether fractions were prepared and tested for oral acute toxicity. Whereas some toxicity signs occurred for aqueous-ethanol extract at doses ≥1500 mg/kg bwt that of dichloromethane fraction were seen at 1000-5000 mg/kg and that of petroleum ether fraction were at 5000 mg/kg. All the tested materials at a dose above 300 mg/kg bwt had negative effects on the growth of the mice. The LD50 were estimated to be >1000 mg/kg bwt for dichloromethane, >1500 mg/kg bwt for aqueous-ethanol extract and >3000 mg/kg bwt for petroleum ether fraction. All mice dissected had normal organs except one among six females treated with aqueous-ethanol extract at 5000 mg/kg bwt which had pus in the uterus. Relative organ weight (ROW) suggested effects in kidney and heart. The LD50 in this study indicated that the dichloromethane fraction and aqueous-ethanol extracts are harmful if swallowed while petroleum ether fraction may be harmful if swallowed hence people should be warned against oral use of these products. Since only behavioral and gross organ examinations were done, further studies involving histological and hematological examinations are suggested.