Acute Toxicity Test of Abrus cantoniensis Hance Extract

[Objectives] To investigate the acute toxicity of petroleum ether extract, n-butanol extract, ethyl acetate extract and water extract to mice. [Methods] The medium lethal dose(LD;) in mice could not be determined, so the maximum dose method was used for experiment. Mice were not fed but allowed to drink water for 16 h before the experiment. There were 74 SPF Kunming Mice, half male and half female, and it was divided into extract group and blank control group. The toxicity and death were recorded after intragastric administration and regular close observation. If any mice died, the dead mice were dissected. The changes of heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, stomach, small intestine and other organs were observed with the naked eye. At the end of the 14 d observation period, the surviving mice in each group were killed and dissected. The gross pathological changes of the main organs were observed with the naked eye according to the same method mentioned above. [Results] There were no obvious toxic symptoms and no death in the mice. [Conclusions] The maximum doses of petroleum ether extract, n-butanol extract, ethyl acetate extract and water extract in mice were 1.61, 1.71, 1.65 and 1.79 g/L, respectively. Thus it was found that the quarterly tests of petroleum ether extract, n-butanol extract, ethyl acetate extract and water extract suggested that the medicine was safe.