Evaluation of Acute and Sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity Study of Ethanolic Extract of Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham Stem Bark on Experimental Wistar Rats

Crataeva nurvala Buch-Hum (Varuna) is a well known traditional Indian medicinal plant used in the treatment of various ailments in particular urolithiasis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity of ethanolic extract of the plant. Acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity of ethanolic extract of Crataeva nurvala stem bark were evaluated in female Wistar rats as per OECD-425 guidelines. A fixed dosage study was adopted for acute toxicity study where the limit dose is 2000 mg/kg body weight of test animal. Signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 h and every day for 7 days. In the sub-chronic toxicity study the animals were orally administered a single dose of 175, 550 and 1750 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight changes, cage side parameters and mortality rate were monitored after 30 minutes (with special attention for first 4 hours), periodically for 24 hour of administration of the extract and daily thereafter for 14 days. Results revealed no mortalities or clinical signs in rats during the study. The high no observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) value of 2000 mg/kg body weight implies that the drug could be safe. Acute toxicity study revealed that Crataeva nurvala stem bark is non-toxic at LD₅₀ more than 2000 mg/kg body weight of animals.