ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY STUDY OF AQUEOUS AND METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BLUMEA VIRENS IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

Blumea virens, belonging to family Asteraceae, is found abundantly in tropical and subtropical zones of Asia, especially in India. The consumption of whole plant has been reported to produce mortality in animals in Kerala. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo acute oral toxicity of aqueous and methanolic extract of Blumea virens in Sprague Dawley rats as per OECD guidelines 425. Limit test was conducted at a dose of 2000 mg/Kg. The animals administered with the aqueous and methanolic extract did not produce any related signs of toxicity or mortality during the 14-day observation period. Gross and histopathology was performed at the end of the study. Methanolic extract evinced hepatotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity to the animal whereas no abnormalities were detected with aqueous extract. Phytochemical analysis of the plant methanolic extract revealed presence of steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, diterpenes, triterpenes and glycosides whereas aqueous extract revealed presence of steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, diterpenes and glycosides.