Toxicological evaluation of methanolic extract of Crotalaria pallida in rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the 28-day repeated dose toxicity study of methanolic extract of aerial parts of Crotalaria pallida (MECP) in Wistar albino male rats following OECD 407 guidelines. Group I served as control administered with saline. The group II, III and IV were administered with methanolic extract of C. pallida @ dose of 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 2000mg/kg p.o respectively for 28 days. The blood samples from the retro-orbital plexus were collected on Day 14 and Day 28 and subjected for routine haematological and serological examination. The experimental rats in all the groups were apparently normal and healthy throughout the experiment with no appearance of any abnormal clinical signs and feed intake. The percentage body weight gain in Group I and Group IV were 33.18 % and 14.86 % respectively, indicating the lesser body weight gain in Group IV as compared to Group I. The Hb, TEC and PCV had reduced in Group IV and TLC had increased in Group IV. Serum biochemical parameters like AST, ALT, BUN and alkaline phosphatase showed a non-significant increase in all the treatment groups on Day 28. The values of creatinine were increased in Group IV on Day 28. The histopathological evidences supported mild hepato- and nephrotoxicity associated with variation in hematological and serological parameters.