Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of chloroform extracts of cucumis metuliferus and lippia kituiensis in mice and rats model

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of Cucumis metuliferus and Lippia kituiensis leaf chloroform extracts in mice and rats model. Methods: Acute oral toxicity study of chloroform extracts of L. kituiensis and C. metuliferus was carried out by administration of 300, 600, 1500, mg/kg body weight to mice in the respective groups. The LD50 of the C. metuliferus and L. kituiensis extracts was determined to be not greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. Sub-acute toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of the extracts at daily doses of 150, 300 and 500mg/kg body weight in the respective groups of rats for 28 days, and a positive control consisting of 1% DMSO and 5 mL was given to each. Results: In acute toxicity, all treated groups revealed neither mortality nor significant alteration in behavior, body weight, and hematology parameters. However, the significance different was observed in organ weight at a dose of 600mg/kg and 1500mg/kg of the tested plant extract in both plants. In sub acute study the result revealed neither mortality nor significant alteration in behavior between treated and control. The significant different was observed in body weight in all doses in both plants and organ weight and haematological parameter in dose level 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg compared to control. Moreover the significant change was observed in biochemical parameters of both sexes in dose of 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of C. metuliferus and L. kituiensis extract. A significant histological change was observed in liver, kidney, lungs and spleen in all extract of C. metuliferus and L. kituiensis in a dose of 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion: These plants can causes‟ severe toxicity to animals.