ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF EXTRACTS OF EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES (MART.) SOLMS

摘要

Eichhornia crassipes is a water weed and is considered as a threat to the environment and economy. The purpose of the study was to test the acute oral toxicity of the extracts of the plant. Acute toxicity of ethyl acetate, aqueous extracts and methanol fractionate of Eichhornia crassipes was evaluated in Swiss mice. The acute toxicity studies were carried out based on OECD guidelines 423 and fixed dosage studies was adopted where the limit dose is 2000mg/kg body weight of test animal. The animals were orally administered a single dose of 100, 250, 500,750, 1000, 2000mg/kg body weight. Signs of toxicity and mortality were noted after 1, 4 and 24h of administration of the extract for 14 days. The highest dose administered (2000mg/kg body weight) did not produce mortality or changes in general behaviour of the test animals. These results indicate the safety of the oral administration of ethyl acetate extract, aqueous extract and methanol fractionate of aqueous extract of Eichhornia crassipes