SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY OF A STEROIDAL GLYCOSIDE FROM THE FLOWERS OF ALANGIUM SALVIIFOLIUM WANG

The current study was carried out to investigate the sub-acute toxicity of 3-O--D-glucopyranosyl-(24)-ethylcholesta-5,22,25-triene, a steroidal glycoside isolated from the flowers of Alangium salviifolium Wang on Long Evan’s rat. After intra-peritoneal administration of the compound at a dose of 300 μg/rat/day for 14 consecutive days, no mortality or significant changes in body weight or behavior were observed. The blood samples of the rats were examined for hematological and biochemical parameters which were statistically insignificant when compared to that of the control group. All the vital organs showed normal histopathological architecture (heart, lungs, liver and kidney) in comparison to the control group. This preliminary investigation demonstrate that the compound is safe at dose of 300 μg/rat/day for 14 consecutive days. But acute, sub-chronic and chronic toxicity evaluations as well as clinical trials need to be done.