Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology
Year : 2008, Volume : 1, Issue : 3
First page : ( 245) Last page : ( 248)
Print ISSN : 0974-3618. Online ISSN : 0974-360X.

Acute and sub acute toxicity studies on ethanolic fraction of Thuja occidentalis Linn.

Dubey S. K.^1,*, Batra A.²

¹Sanjeevan College of Pharmacy, Dausa (Raj.) India

²Dept. of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur (Raj.) India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: skdpharma_cognosy@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity of ethanolic fraction of Thuja occidentalis (EFTO). Acute toxicity of this extract was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. The animals were fed with EFTO between the doses of 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg body weight and were observed continuously for the first 4 h and for every hour for the next 24 h, then 6 hourly for 48 h. Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of EFTO for 30 days and effects on biochemical parameters evaluated (sub acute toxicity model). The LD₅₀ of EFTO was found to be above 20.0 g/Kg body weight. There was reduction in the plasma glucose and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, and increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in the treated animals. A significant increase in the body weight was observed for groups treated with lower doses of EFTO while groups treat with higher doses showed no significant weight increase. Aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine amino transferases (ALT) levels were not affected at lower doses of EFTO but there was increase in creatinine levels in all the treated animals. The extract demonstrated good hypoglycaemic effects by lowering the plasma sugar level and also had some beneficial and reduction effects on cardiovascular risk factors. There was no evidence of drug-induced symptoms or death at all the doses of EFTO administered in acute study but subacute results revealed a tendency to cause kidney problems on a long-term use.

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Keywords

Acute, sub acute toxicity, Thuja occidentalis.

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