Oral Acute Toxicity of a Tephrosia vogelii Hook (kalembe) ethanolic extract

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to assess the potential toxic effect of a Tephrosia vogelii Hook ethanolic extract in female Sprague dawley rats. Dose levels of 2000, 1000, 500 and 250 mg/kg were evaluated. Different parameters such as mortality, evident toxic signs, effect on body weight, organ weight and histopathological examination showing gross lesions were determined. The doses of 2000, 1000 and 500 mg/kg had induced mortality over 50 % of the animals under study, where the first two produced the onset of apparent toxic signs and lesions in the organs. The administration of doses of 250 mg/kg did not show the occurrence of toxic effects. The extract was classified as Category 3 (moderately toxic extract) according to the oral acute toxicity test by the class method (CTA).

Key words: acute toxicity, class method, Tephrosia vogelii Hook, ethanolic extract.