RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Croton penduliforus (Euphorbiaceae) is a tropical evergreen plant widely distributed in Africa. Its seeds are used in folklore medicine as laxative, as well as a major component of herbal contraceptive and antifibroid decoction. OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate the oral acute toxicity and histological effects of Croton penduliflorus seed oil in mice. METHODS: Croton penduliflorus seed oil (CPSO) was prepared by Soxhlet extraction of shelled, oven dried, ground seed sample with 40-60 degrees C petroleum ether. Albino mice of both sexes aged 6-7 weeks old were randomly divided into seven groups of five. Graded doses of 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 mg/kg body weight of the extract were administered orally to groups 2-7 respectively. The control group was administered with 0.1 ml of Tween 20. The numbers of deaths over a period of 24 hours were recorded. Acute toxicity (lethal dose) was estimated from the graph of % cumulative death against log dose of the extract. The animals that survived after 24 hours were monitored daily for 14 days for appearance of delayed toxicity signs. At the end of 14 days all the animals were sacrificed and blood sample were collected from each animal into a plain sterilized bottle. Internal organs namely kidney, liver, heart and lungs were isolated and fixed in 10 % formal saline for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The LD50 was estimated to be 570 mg/kg body weight. CPSO caused weight loss at doses greater than 600 mg/kg with significant increases in AST and ALP activities and fluctuation of serum electrolytes. CONCLUSION: Croton penduliflorus seed oil is toxic to the kidney and liver of mice.