original article PHcog J. 78 Pharmacognosy Journal | September 2011 | Vol 3 | issue 25 *Address for correspondence: E-mail: pritash79@yahoo.com DOI: 10.5530/pj.2011.25.14 leaves were tested on bone loss in ovarectomised rats and it was observed that it was able to prevent the ovariectomy- induced femoral osteopenia [8] whereas the woody stem extracts possess analgesic activity. [9] Wrightia tinctoria commonly known as Dhudh Kodi in India belong to the botanical family Apocynaceae, [10] is a small deciduous tree, generally up to 1.8 m tall and often under 60 cm girth, sometimes up to 7.5 m high, distributed all over India. Four uncommon sterols, desmosterol, clerosterol, 24-methylene-25-methylcholesterol and 24-dehydropollinastanol, in addition to several usual phytosterols, were also isolated and identifed. [11] The wrightial, a new terpene and other phytoconstituents such as cycloartenone, cycloeucalenol were isolated identifed by fractionation of methanol extract of the immature seed pods. [12] The hexane extract of seed pods of Wrightia tinctoria was saponifed and non saponifable matter was fractionated with methanol gave a colorless substance, oleanolic acid. [13] The fve favonoid compounds, Indigotin, Indirubin, tryptanthrin, isatin and rutin were isolated and identifed from the leaves. [14] The bark is used as stomachic and in the treatment of abdominal pain and skin diseases, [15] as antidysenteric, antidiarrhoeal and antihaemorrhagic. [16] The bark is used in fatulence and bilious affections. A decoction of the leaves and bark is taken as a stomachic and in the treatment of abdominal pain. [17] The dried and ground bark is rubbed over the body in dropsy. Acute Oral Toxicity of Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria in Mice P. S. Jain*, S. B. Bari, S. J. Surana Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, Dist: Dhule (M.S.) India 425 405 abStract Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria, belonging to the botanical family Malvaceae and apocynaceae, have been traditionally used by the locals in india for treatment of various ailments. the current study reports the outcome of acute oral toxicity investigation of Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria, on icr mice. no mortalities or evidence of adverse effects have been observed in icr mice following acute oral administration at the highest dose of 2500 mg/ kg crude extracts of Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria. This is the frst report on the acute oral toxicity of Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria and the fndings of this study are in agreement with those of in vitro experiments and thus provide scientifc validation on the use of the leaves of Abelmoschus manihot and Wrightia tinctoria. Key words: acute oral toxicity, Malvaceae, apocynaceae, Abelmoschus manihot, Wrightia tinctoria. INTRODUCTION Medicinal herbs have always been used as traditional primary healthcare agents, especially in Asian countries. Over the last 20 years, rapid changes have been observed in the popular use of natural products from plant sources for maintenance of health and for alternative therapy, in Western countries. [1] Abelmoschus manihot commonly known as “Jungli Bhindi” in India belong to botanical family Malvaceae, is a large annual erect hairy plant, 1.2-1.8 m. high. It is native to China, was introduced into India, near Calcutta and in coastal areas of Maharashtra. The mucilage contains polysaccharides and proteins. [2] The fower contains quercetin-3-robinoside, quercetin-3’-glucoside, hyperin, myrecetin and anthocyanins. [3] The different chromatographic methods have been developed on the favones present in the plant. [4,5] The fowers are used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and toothache. The ethanol extract of fower was screened for antiviral activity, and it was observed that the hyperoside shown signifcant anti HBV activity. [6] The favones present in the plant showed preventive effect in the injury. [7] The