Toxic effect and oral acute LD₅₀ study of <i>Nerium oleander</i> in male guineapigs

Abstract

The toxic effect of Nerium oleander was studied in 36 male adult guineapigs during the period from July to December 1994. These 36 animals were divided into six equal groups (A to F), each consisting of six animals. Each animal of groups B to F was administered with a single oral dose of crude watery extract of sheath oleander @ 300, 450, 600, 750 and 900 mg / kg body weight, respectively whereas animals of group A served as control. Each of the experimental animals was carefully observed and the toxic signs recorded as nausea, anorexia, dullness, depression, restlessness, abdominal pain, salivation, reluctant to move, tremor, resting of chin on the ground, respiratory distress, paralysis of the limbs, recumbency, convulsion followed by death with characteristic groaning. It may be concluded that the lowest dose 300 mg / kg body weight is non lethal to the male guineapigs and the dose of 450, 600, 750 and 900 mg / kg body weight caused 17%, 50%, 83% and 100% mortality, respectively and the LD₅₀ is 540 mg / kg body weight.

Key words: Nerium oleander; toxic signs; oral acute LD₅₀; guineapigs

doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i2.2562

Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 159-161