Acute toxicity studies of potassium permanganate in Swiss albino mice

Acute toxicity study of potassium permanganate was carried out in Swiss albino mice. Potassium permanganate was administered at dose rate of 0.0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 and 3500mg/kg body weight to groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, ten per group for LD50 determination. The dead animals were posted for gross lesions. A predetermined dose of 160mg/kg of the chemical was administered to experimental group of 12 mice, whereas control group of 12 mice received 16ml/kg body weight of distilled water for a period of 7 days. Grower's marsh and water were provided ad libitum. The animals were weighed daily before administration of potassium permanganate. On the eighth day 1ml of blood sample was collected from both control and experimental mice for haematology and plasma biochemistry into ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid bottles. The median lethal dose (LD50) was estimated at 1449.7mg/kg body weight. There was no significant difference between the mean weight of control and experimental group. Haematological and biochemical parameters of both control and experimental groups did not increase significantly though there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in chloride ion level in plasma. Toxicity signs observed are rapid and shallow respiration, rough hair coat, dullness, diarrhoea, bloat, gastroenteritis, congestion of liver, paleness of lungs and hypochloraemia.