Rumexabyssinica Jacq. (Polygonaceae) is locally used
in management of allergies and female reproductive
healthcare; whereas Menthaspicata L. (Lamiaceae)is used to treat gastrointestinal and
respiratory distress, dandruff, halitosis and malaria in Uganda. Owing to the
paucity of data on their safety profiles, this study evaluated the acute and
sub-acute toxicities of 70% ethanolic leaf extracts of both plants in mice and
Wistar albino rats. The oral acute toxicity of both plants was evaluated in
Swiss mice of 7-8
weeks old (16-22g) body weight and
LD50 determined. Sub-acute toxicity was evaluated in Wistar albino
rats (6 per group) at dose rates of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg for 28 days. The
LD50 of R. abyssinica and M. spicata in mice was 7727 mg/kg and 13,606 mg/kg body weight, respectively. General signs of toxicity due to large doses of both plants extract
included hyperurination, abdominal muscle twitches and convulsions. In the
sub-acute toxicity test, rats treated with both extracts did not exhibit
any clinical signs
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