Acute toxicity studies of locally cultivated Artemisia annua leaf extract in Rats

Abstract

Artemisia annua is a medicinal plant native to China and well known for its antiplasmodial, antirheumatic and anticancer properties. The acute toxicity, phytochemical screening and elemental analysis of hexane extract of A.annua were investigated. 1000, 2000, 2500mg/kg of the hexane leaf extract A. annua were administered intraperitoneally to the test groups while distilled water was given to the control group. The parameters measured were food and fluid intake, urine and fecal output and hemaetological parameters. The lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was 2750mg/kg body weight, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids andterpenes were the bioactive compounds detected. The elemental contents included sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc aluminium and silver. The hexane extract of A. annua decreased both food and fluid intake but increased urine and fecal output. Significant changes in some of the hemaetological parameters were also elicited by the extract. This study has shown the toxicity characteristics of the hexane extract of the A. annua leaves in short time treatment with the extract.