In Vivo Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Jatropha curcas Seed Oil

Medicinal plants are regarded as safe because of their natural origin, nevertheless, they can contain toxic substances that can exert adverse effects. This study aims to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity of Jatropha curcas seed oil using modified Lorke method and 28 days repeated dosing of grouped rats with normal saline and -10, 300, 600 mg/kg body weight of the seed oil. At the end of the experimentation, haematological and biochemical analysis of blood samples and the histopathology of the liver and kidney of rats in each group were evaluated. The Lethal Dose (LD50) of J. curcas seed oil was lower than 5000mg/kg b.wt. Haematological and biochemical analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in the Hemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume and Red Blood Cells, an increase in the level of Total White Blood Count and Platelet Count, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine in the treated groups, while the histological evaluation revealed distortion in liver and kidney cytoarchitecture of rats administered with 600 mg/kg b.wt of the seed oil. The oil was found less toxic at the acute phase but there was toxicity manifestation in subacute phase causing adverse effects on haematological, biochemical parameters and the tissues of the kidney and liver.  The study suggests that the seed oil can be used, but caution should be exercised when using it at high doses for prolonged periods.