MEDICINAL PLANTS - FROM TRADITIONAL USE TO TOXICITY ASSESSMENT: A REVIEW

Herbal medicine is gaining popularity once again and there is an increased interest in green medicine simply because it is considered as safe. Traditionally also plants and plant extracts were used to cure many diseases and disorders. However, before usage it is of utmost important to ensure its safety. The extract may be therapeutically very efficient but if it. s toxicity assessment is not worked out, it will not be accepted. Hence, toxicity assessment of plants with proven therapeutic use is of utmost important. Toxicity data are required to predict the safety associated before the use of medical products. In the present review, parameters required to be analyzed in acute, sub acute and chronic toxicity are discussed with their relevant importance. In the end ninty eight plants whose toxicity is worked out are listed along with their botanical name, family, ethnomedicinal uses, part used, solvent used, safety levels, dose levels used, route of administration, LD50 values and references. Researchers who wish to work on some pharmacological activity can directly choose one of these plants since their toxicity assessment is already done.