Abstract

The acute toxicity of methanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum was evaluated in Swiss albino rats. The rats were randomly distributed into four groups of three animals each for the first phase. The groups were respectively administered both intraperitoneally and orally methanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum at 0, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg body weight in a single dose. In the second phase of the experiment for intraperitoneal administration, the albino rats were randomly distributed into five groups of three animals each and the groups were administered single doses of the extract at 0, 600, 1000, 1600 and 2900 mg/kg body weight while for oral administration, the rats were divided into four groups of 3 animals each and were administered single doses of the extract at 0, 1600, 2900 and 5000mg/kg body weight and monitored frequently for 24 hours and 14 days respectively in both phases. The number of deaths in each group was recorded. The LD50 of the methanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum was calculated to be 244.95 mg/kg. The results indicate that the extract may be very toxic at a high dose and short term exposure when administered intraperitoneally. For the oral intubation, no mortality was observed in the albino rats. All the animals showed a positive gain in body weight throughout the study. The oral LD50 of methanol leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum was estimated to be above 5000mg/kg body weight and the plant extract was concluded to be safe and non-toxic when taken through the oral route.

Keywords: Chrysophyllum; Appetite; Immobility; Convulsion; Toxicity; Albino Rats