TERATOGENIC AND EMBRYO-TOXIC EFFECTS OF LATEX AND LEAVES METHANOL EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HELIOSCOPIA L. IN MICE AND CHICKEN EMBRYOS

U. Saleem1,4, B. Ahmad1,2, M. Ahmad1, K. Hussain1, N. I. Bukhari1 and A. A. Anjum3

1University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, 2Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, 3Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore and 4College of Pharmacy, Government College University, Faisalabad.
Corresponding author e-mail: ahmadbprof@gmail.com,

ABSTRACT

Euphorbia helioscopia L. has been investigated for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and vasodepressor activities. The study was designed to probe into the reproductive toxicity (teratogenicity) potential of Euphorbia helioscopia L. in albino mice. Toxicity of latex and methanol extract of leaves (10, 50, 80, 100 and 120 µg/200 µL) was evaluated in white leghorn chicken embryos (5th day) using chorioallantoic membrane route (n = 30 for each experiment i.e. latex & extract, or 5 per dose and 5 as control group). Teratogenic potential of latex (n= 5) and extract (100, 300, 500, 700, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight, n= 40, or 5 per concentration and 5 as control group) was evaluated in pregnant albino mice on 7th day of gestation using intra-peritoneal route. Both latex and leave extract checked in chicken embryos were safe. LD50 calculated with TSK software was 1397 mg/kg body weight for methanol extract of leaves observed in albino mice. The rest of the experimental concentrations were non-lethal in mice without any observable malformation. It is concluded that the concentration (administered parentally) less than LD50 is devoid of teratogenic effects in pregnant female mice and chicken embryos.
Key words: Euphorbia helioscopia, Chicken Embryo, Mice, Teratogenicity, Toxicity.