EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF THE ROOTS OF TRAGIA CANNABINA IN RATS

The toxicity profile of alcoholic extract of roots ofTragia cannabina Family: Euphorbiaceae was studied in wistar rats. The multiple oral administration of extract at single dose of 100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight for 24 hrs. did not produce sign of toxicity, behavioral appearance, change on a gross appearance. The sun-acute toxicity was determined by administration of graded dosage (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight; orally) of the extract daily for 28 days and the effect on body weight, organ weight and serum biochemical parameters were estimate. Body weight of dose and control rat increase throughout the duration of treatment. Our data demonstrate significantly no difference in serum concentration of aspartae amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphate, protein, urea, creatinin were measured. The results showed that subacute treatment did not shows any change in corporal weight and hematological parameters. However, a change in liver weight but not in hepatic enzymes was observed. This suggests that the liver function is not altered by Tragia cannabina in this study. Some changes in the glucose content were observed. It may be concluded that alcoholic extract of Tragia cannabina do not produce significant toxic effect in rats during acute and sub-acute treatment in rats.