Toxicological studies on aqueous extract of Gmelina arborea in rodents

Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Verbenaceae) is an important medicinal plant in the traditional system of medicine of India. The plant is used in the treatment of snake-bites, fever, piles, and diabetes. However, there is little toxicological information available regarding its safety after exposure. The present study was designed to evaluate acute and repeated dose toxicity of the aqueous extract of Gmelina arborea stem bark.

In the acute toxicity test, Swiss albino mice were treated with aqueous extract (300, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg), orally. Animals were observed periodically during the first 24 h after administration of the extract, and daily thereafter for 14 days. In the repeated dose toxicity study, the aqueous extract of Gmelina arborea (300, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg per day) was administered orally for a period of 28 days in Wistar rats. The effects on body weight, food and water consumption, organ weight, hematology, clinical biochemistry, as well as histology, were studied.

Aqueous extract did not produce mortality, changes in behavior or any other physiological activities in mice, for any of the selected doses. There were no significant differences in the body weight, organ weights and feeding habits between control and treated animals. Hematological and biochemical analysis showed no marked differences in any of the parameters examined in either the control or treated groups. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were observed. The aqueous extract of Gmelina arborea was found safe in acute and repeated dose toxicity studies when tested in rodents.