Investigations on Croton penduliflorus Hutch.: III. Estimation of the acute toxicity in frogs and mice and the irritant activity in mice

Abstract

The toxicity and/or irritant activity of a petroleum-ether extract of the seed of Croton penduliflorus Hutch. (CP) were investigated in mice and frogs and compared to that of Croton tiglium L. (CT). In acute toxicity studies carried out in mice, the LD₅₀ of the extracts of CP and CT were 543 and 1096 mg/kg respectively, following oral administration. In acute toxicity study in frogs the calculated LD₅₀ for CP extracts was 49 mg/kg after oral administration. Clinical signs of tachypnea and decreased motor activity were observed in all cases, but no post mortem lesions were evident. Some of the animals convulsed before death. The irritant unit of CP extract was 5 μg/ear.