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Research Article

Acute oral toxicity of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula leaf extract in Wistar albino rats

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Pages 1408-1415 | Received 11 Jul 2011, Accepted 30 Mar 2012, Published online: 11 Sep 2012
 

Abstract

Context: Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thw. var. pendula (Annonaceae), a tall evergreen tree, is cultivated all over India. The plant is used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of fever, skin diseases, and hypertension.

Objective: The present study evaluated the acute oral toxicity of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula leaf extract in Wistar albino rats.

Material and methods: The parameters evaluated daily after oral drug administration of the extract (540, 1080, 2160 and 3240 mg/kg body weight) were mortality, signs of toxicity, feed and water consumption and body weight changes up to 14 days. The effect of different doses of the extract on organ weight, biochemical and hematological parameters were evaluated on the 15th day.

Results and conclusion: Methanol extract of Polyalthia longifolia leaf up to the dose level 3240 mg/kg body weight did not produce any toxic effects or deaths; the extract was well tolerated by the rats. It did not alter body weight, feed and water consumption. The organ weight, biochemical and hematological analysis did not show any dose- dependant changes in any of the parameters examined in animals of both sexes. The acute oral administration of the methanol extract of Polyalthia longifolia leaf was not toxic and safe in a single dose.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Prof. S.P. Singh, Head, Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India for providing excellent research facilities. The authors Dr. R. D. and Mr. M. K. are thankful to University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for providing financial support as Junior Research Fellowship.

Declaration of interest

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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