Biological Assay of Croton penduliflorus Hutch. Seed Oil in Mice

Abstract

Croton penduliflorus seed oil was obtained by successively extracting the dried seeds with petroleum ether (40°-60°). Graded doses of the extracted oil suspended in 5% Tween 20 were administered orally to groups of mice and the number of wet faeces (WF) produced at hourly basis for 9 hrs and at the end of 24 hrs were recorded. Linear dose-response relationships were obtained. A time-course of the purgative effect was established showing a maximum response between 9 and 24 hrs irrespective of the dose. An acute toxicity test was performed and the dose which produced 50% lethality in the mice population within 24 hrs was obtained.