Original Article TOXICITY EVALUATION OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF PORTULACA OLERACEA (WHOLE PLANT) IN SWISS ALBINO MICE SABEEHA SHAFI*, NAHIDA TABASSUM Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Email: sabeeha_shafi@yahoo.com Received: 26 Nov 2014 Revised and Accepted: 18 Dec 2014 ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the toxicity (acute and sub-acute) of hydro-alcoholic extract of Portulaca oleracea (whole plant) in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Acute oral toxicity study was carried out as per OECD 423 guidelines. The doses that were taken are 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, 1500 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg b. w. These doses were given once daily. The animals were observed for 72 hours. The parameters of behaviour were observed. The subacute toxicity of the hydro-alcoholic extract was also evaluated. The doses were 200 and 400mg/kg b. w, given daily only once for 14 days and the observations were made for hepatotoxicity the toxicity was assessed by estimating the serum liver function tests. The studies of acute and subacute toxicity were compared with the normal control groups. Results: In acute oral toxicity study the animals showed different behavioural changes like grooming, hyperactivity, sedation, respiratory arrest, convulsions, increased and decreased motor activity and death. At the dose level of 500 mg/kg b. w, 50% of the animals died and at the dose levels of 1000, 1500 and 2000mg/kg b. w, 100% of the animals died thereby indicating that the dose below than 500mg. kg b. w is safe for further pharmacological studies. In subacute studies, the dose of 400mg/kg b. w showed significant hepatic protection. Conclusion: These observations indicate that the hydro-alcoholic extract of Portulaca oleracea (whole plant) at the dose level of 500 mg/kg can be used for further pharmacological activity and at the dose level of 400mg/kg have significant hepato protection. Keywords: Hydro-alcoholic extract, Acute oral toxicity, Subacute oral toxicity. INTRODUCTION Herbal plants have received very much attention these days because of wider acceptability and lesser side effects. These plants have taken the place of synthetic drugs as 80% of the world's population is dependent on these plants for curing their primary health concerns. In order to render the plant product safe, its toxicity evaluation is necessary and also to find the dose of the plant that can be used for further pharmacological research. The acute oral toxicity test aims at establishing the therapeutic index, i. e. The ratio between the pharmacologically effective dose and the lethal dose on the same strain and species (LD50/ED50). The greater the index the safer the compound and vice versa. However, the term acute oral toxicity is most often used in connection to lethality and LD determinations [1, 2]. The Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) panel of experts defines acute toxicity as the adverse effect occurring within a short time of oral administration of a single dose of a substance or multiple doses given within 24 hrs, and subacute toxicity as the advance effects occurring as result of the repeated daily oral dosing of a chemical to experimental animal for part not exceeding 10% of the life span. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) defines subacute exposure from a few days to 6 months. Subacute toxicity testing gives the valuable information on the cumulative toxicity of a substance at low dose on prolonged exposure. A wide variety of adverse effects can be detected; the results from such studies can provide information in selecting the proper plant product. A large number of herbal plants have been screened for different pharmacological activities. Portulaca oleracea is one of the plants that have been used extensively these days. Inspite of its popularity, very little literature is known about its toxicity profile. It belongs to Family Portulacaceae (Purslane family) and is commonly called as Common Purslane in English, as Kurfa in Mumbai, as Loni, Ghol in Gujrati, as Kursa, Chhota Lunia in Hindi, as Lonak in Punjabi and as Nunar in Kashmiri. It is a cosmopolitan weed in warm temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of the world [3, 4]. In Srinagar it grows along waste lands and in cultivated gardens. In folk medicine, it is reported that it can be used as a salad and cooked like soups. Its chemical constituents include anti-oxidants, β carotene and omega 3-fatty acids. [5-7]. Reported pharmacological activities of this plant include antifungal [8], antibacterial [9], analgesic, anti-inflammatory [10, 11], gastric antiulcerogenic [12], bronchodilator [13], skeletal muscle relaxant [14], antihypertensive [15], neuropharmacological [16], wound healing [17], antioxidant [18], antifertility [19] and antitumour activities [20]. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the acute and subacute oral toxicity of this plant particularly its effect on liver enzymes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material Portulaca oleracea (whole plant) were collected from Nishat area of the district, Srinagar. This was carried during the months of April to June and authenticated by a plant taxonomist in the Centre of Plant Taxonomy, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. The identification that was done was on the basis of the characters described by Kirtikar and Basu, 1935. Plant sample was deposited in the herbarium of the Department of Taxonomy, University of Kashmir under voucher specimen number 1011(KASH) dated 15-09-2008 for future reference. The plant material was dried in a well ventilated room with outside temperature that was ranging between 18 to 32 0 C. Preparation of the extract The dried whole plant was coarsely powdered and 500 gm of the material was allowed to macerate for 48 hrs with 50% ethanol, with occasional shaking. After 48 hrs, the ethanolic extract was filtered through Whatmans filter paper. The plant material was then macerated again with fresh 50% ethanol and the filtrate obtained from the first and the second maceration was then combined and the solvent was recovered. After the recovery of alcohol, the extract was then evaporated to dryness. The process was repeated several times and the yield was noted. The extract was refrigerated at 4 0 C for future use in experimental studies. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 7, Issue 2, 2015 Innovare Academic Sciences