Acute Toxicity and Gross Behavioural Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Anamirta cocculus Willd

Anamirta cocculus Willd is a southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant belonging to the family Menispermaceae. Toxicity studies give important information about the safety of a substance to be identified for their pharmacological action. Acute toxicity test is the first test in any pharmacological screening procedure. Albino mice of both sexes were used for the present study. After giving different doses of ethanolic extract (200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg), all mice in the 5 groups (including control group) were watched carefully for 24 h. No mortality was seen during 24 h in any of the groups. No toxic symptoms produced in animals. Hence it was established that the oral LD50 of the alcoholic extract of the Anamirta cocculus is above 1600 mg/kg. The extract showed mild sedation and jumping response which were prominent one hour after the administration of the extract at doses of 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg body weight. The extract also produced autonomic effects like straub tail response at the above doses.