IN VIVO LETHAL AND CYTOTOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF TRICHOSANTHES CUCUMERINA

Trichosanthes Cucumerina is being used as food as well as traditional medicine for long days. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lethal dose and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina fruits (TCFEE) and leaves (TCLEE). For lethal dose estimation graded doses ranging from 2002000mg/ kg body weight (BW) of both extracts were administered orally and observed mortality up to 72 h. In lethal toxicity study the LD50 value of TCFEE and TCLEE was found as 1400 mg/kg BW and 1300 mg/kg BW. The cytotoxicity study of both extracts was done by evaluation of comparative difference of hepatorenal biochemical parameters (SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Urea, Uric acid and Creatinine) and histopathological slides of liver and kidney of both normal control and treated rats. Results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between biochemical parameters and no changes in anatomy of liver and kidney. Hence the results suggest that ethanolic extracts of T. cucumerina fruit and leave are quite safe and can be used in the treatment of the chronic diseases like diabetes without any toxicity.