| Summary: | Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. is a herbaceous plant native
to Brazil and appears frequently in humid environments.
This plant is used to treat urolithiasis, inflammatory
bowel disease, diabetes and hepatitis B. The acute
toxicity and LD50 of an aqueous extract of P. tenellus
were determined in laboratory mice and their behavior
was analyzed. The intraperitoneal LD50 was calculated
by the Karber & Behrens (1964) method, for
which a 96% alcoholic extract was concentrated
in a rotary evaporator. Male albino mice (Mus
musculus) were divided into three batches of six animals
and observed for 24 hours after administration of
the extract, diluted in 0.9% saline, at doses of 500,
1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 mg / kg. Short-term studies
have demonstrated this plant to be non-toxic; however,
we found that this species induced agitation in animals,
with stereotyped movements, spasms and increased
respiratory frequency, as well as signs of depression,
such as sleepiness, prostration, dyspnea and a reduction
in respiratory frequency.
|
|---|
