Abstract

TOXICITY EVALUATION OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF BARK AND LEAF OF FICUS RACEMOSA IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF CHICK EMBRYO

Aruna Kanase*, Anuya Mane Shilpa Pachapurkar, Jaywant Jadhav and
Surendra Angadi

Abstract

Single dose treatment of various concentrations of aqueous extracts of leaves and stem bark of Ficus racemosa were administered at various hours of chick embryo development to determine the toxic effects leading to mortality and morphological abnormalities. The extracts were administered at 48, 72 and 96 hrs of development since toxicity studies were directed towards early development of circulatory system, especially chorioallantoic membrane vasculature. The final effect of the extracts was observed at 144 hrs of development. Window method was used for the administration of the extracts. The results indicate that increase in the concentration was more lethal or induced abnormalities. High mortality was observed at high doses (1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/egg) of the leaf extracts. Initiation of doses at early hrs of development also influenced percent mortality. Bark extracts (all the doses 0.5 mg, 1.5 mg and 3.0 mg per egg) showed 100% mortality irrespective of initiation of doses. The dead embryos showed significant inhibition in growth and differentiation.

Keywords: Ficus racemosa, chick embryo, toxic effects, mortality, window method.