Acute and Subchronic Oral Toxicities of Justicia pectoralis J. Extract in Wistar Rats

We have studied the acute and subchronic oral toxicities of Justicia pectoralis J hydroalcoholic extract in Wis- tar rats. In acute test, both sexes of adult Wistar rats were given single po dose of J. pectoralis extract at 2000 mg/kg. Fol- lowing euthanasia 14 days later, mortality and signs of toxicity were not observed. In subchronic test, J. pectoralis extract was po administered to both sexes of Wistar rats at 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg/day, 5 days per week for 90 days. The major toxicological endpoints examined included animal body weight, food intake, selected tissue weights, and histopathologi- cal examinations. In addition, we examined blood elements and blood chemistry. Of the blood elements, the blood clotting time was significantly affected in males and females after 90 days. For blood chemistry parameters, cholesterol, ALT, bilirubin, and urea were affected. Organs and tissues abnormalities were not observed in histopathological examination. These results indicate that the effects observed are low and include slight variations in blood clotting time and biochemi- cal parameters.