Research Article ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF EXTRACTS OF EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES (MART.) SOLMS P.LALITHA, SHUBASHINI.K.SRIPATHI AND P.JAYANTHI Department of Chemistry,Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women University (Estd. u/s 3 of UGC Act 1956)Coimbatore-641043,Tamil Nadu,India , Email:goldenlalitha@gmail.com Received:4 June 2012, Revised and Accepted:21 July 2012 ABSTRACT Eichhornia crassipes is a water weed and is considered as a threat to the environment and economy. The purpose of the study was to test the acute oral toxicity of the extracts of the plant. Acute toxicity of ethyl acetate, aqueous extracts and methanol fractionate of Eichhornia crassipes was evaluated in Swiss mice. The acute toxicity studies were carried out based on OECD guidelines 423 and fixed dosage studies was adopted where the limit dose is 2000mg/kg body weight of test animal. The animals were orally administered a single dose of 100, 250, 500,750, 1000, 2000mg/kg body weight. Signs of toxicity and mortality were noted after 1, 4 and 24h of administration of the extract for 14 days. The highest dose administered (2000mg/kg body weight) did not produce mortality or changes in general behaviour of the test animals. These results indicate the safety of the oral administration of ethyl acetate extract, aqueous extract and methanol fractionate of aqueous extract of Eichhornia crassipes. Keywords: Toxicity, Eichhornia crassipes, Waterhyacinth, Non-toxic INTRODUCTION Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Waterhyacinth) is an aquatic macrophyte, monocotyledon of the family pontederiaceae 1 . Waterhyacinth possesses phytochemicals 2a-3 which are of medicinal importance 4 . The methanol extract of leaves of this plant aids in wound healing process 5 and has tumour inhibition potential 6 . In addition, the extracts of this plant exhibit antimicrobial activity 7 . Plants or drugs must be ensured to be safe before they could be used as medicines. A key stage in ensuring the safety of drugs is to conduct toxicity tests in appropriate animal models, and acute toxicity studies are just one of a battery of toxicity tests that are used 8 . The main aim of our study was to evaluate the extracts for their toxic effects before it can be used for applications that are of importance to the public. Hence the ethyl acetate extract, aqueous extract and methanol fractionate of aqueous extract of waterhyacinth were analysed for their acute toxicity profile with reference to behavioural aspects, in Swiss Albino mice. The limit test dose of 2000mg/kg body weight was used following OECD guidelines 9 10 . EXPERIMENTAL Plant collection Waterhyacinth is an easily accessible plant and was collected from Singanallur boat house, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu in March, 2010. The plant sample was identified by Dr.G.V.S.Murthy, Scientist F & Head of Office, Botanical Survey of India, Sourthern Regional Centre, Coimbatore- 641 002 with the number BSI/SRC/5/23/2011- 12/Tech. The voucher specimen of the plant is kept in the Department of Chemistry, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women University for future reference. The root portion was cut off and the plant was washed thoroughly to free from debris. The leaves and shoot portion were shade dried for 20 days. The dried plant material was sliced, ground coarsely and stored for further use. Extraction of the plant Waterhyacinth (100g) was extracted successively with ethyl acetate (2000mL) and water (1000mL) twice for 6 hours and desolvetised yielding ethyl acetate extract (WHEAE) and aqueous extract (WHAQE). The aqueous extract was fractionated with methanol to yield the methanol fractionate (WHMeF). Experimental animals Acute oral toxicity test was performed as per Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines 423 11 . The institutional ethical committee of KMCH College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India approved the protocol for these experiments under number KMCHRET/PhD23/2009-10. Experiments were performed using healthy young adult female Swiss albino mice, nulliparous, non-pregnant and weighing 25-30 g. Female rats were chosen because of their greater sensitivity to treatment 12 . Assignment of animals The animals were randomly divided into six groups each containing six mice. They were identified by the markings using a yellow stain. One mouse was unmarked and the others were marked on head, body, tail, head and body, body and tail, to ease the observation. Housing and Diet The animals were housed in polypropylene cages (55 x 32.7 x 19 cm), with sawdust litter in a temperature controlled environment (23 ± 2ºC). Lighting was controlled to supply 12 h of light and 12 h of dark for each 24-h period. Each cage was identified by a card. This card stated the cage number, number and weight of the animals it contained, test substance code, administration route and dose level. The animals were fed with standard laboratory animal food pellets with water ad libitum. Mode of administration The test substance was administered in a single dose by gavage using specially designed mice oral needle. Animals were fasted 3 h prior to dosing (only food was withheld for 3 h but not water). Administration Dose Following the period of fasting, animals were weighed and test substance was administered orally at a dose of 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. After the administration of test substance, food for the mice was withheld for 2 h. Test substance administration volume The administration volume was 1ml/kg body weight of the animal. Based on the body weight of the animal on the day of treatment, the quantity of the test substance was calculated. Observation period Animals were observed individually after atleast once during the first 30 min, periodically during the first 24 h, with special attention given during the first 4 h, and daily thereafter, for a total of 14 days. All the rats were observed at least twice daily with the purpose of recording any symptoms of ill-health or behavioural changes. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research Vol 5, Issue 4, 2012 ISSN - 0974-2441 Academic Sciences