Abstract

TOXICOLOGICAL SCREENING OF TRICHOSANTHUS ANGUINA LINN ROOTS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Amit J. Patil*, Ritu Gilhotra and N. Kannappan

Abstract

Trichosanthus anguina Linn (T. anguina) an important medicinal plant in Indian traditional system of medicine and is widely used in many countries by different tribal. Despite the wide use of T. anguina in folk medicine, no study has been published in the scientific literature about its toxicological profile. In present study various extract of T. anguina (Cucurbitaceae) roots was evaluated for the acute and subacute toxicity. In the acute toxicity test, oral administration of 2 g/kg of T. anguina roots extracts produced neither mortality nor changes in behavior or any other physiological activities in rats. In subacute toxicity studies, no mortality was observed when the two doses of 1 or 2 g/kg day of methanolic extract of T. anguina roots were administered p.o. for a period of 28 days in rats. There were no significant changes occurred in the body weight, organ weight and behaviour changes in both sexes of animals. There were no significant differences in the body and organ weights between controls and treated animals of both sexes. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were observed. Methanolic extract T. anguina roots was found safe in acute and subacute toxicities while chronic toxicity studies are further required for the support of the safe and sound use of this traditional plant.

Keywords: Trichosanthus anguina, Cucurbitaceae, Traditional medicine, Acute and subacute toxicology.