Acute toxicity study of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava and Ficus sur leaves in albino rats

Abstract

The leaves of Psidium guajava and Ficus sur are important sources of bioactive compounds, traditionally valued for their medicinal properties and increasingly investigated for their pharmacological and therapeutic potential. Safety assessment of herbal extracts is necessary to determine their medicinal potential. This study evaluates the acute toxicity of an ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava and Ficus sur leaves in albino rats to ascertain its safety profile. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards were employed to assess acute toxicity. Phase I rats were administered dosages of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg, whereas Phase II rats were administered doses of 1,600, 2,900, and 5000 mg/kg. The albino rats were allocated randomly to each group. Following oral treatment of the extract, the animals were observed for toxicity, behavioural alterations, and physiological markers over a period of 14 days. The mathematical technique was employed to ascertain the median lethal dose (LD50). No fatalities were seen at the maximal dosage of 5000 mg/kg that was evaluated. No obvious adverse effects were observed across the different dosage groups, based on the behavioural and physiological assessments. No evidence of toxicity was found, since the LD₅₀ was established at 2154.07 mg/kg. The ethanolic extract of Ficus sur leaves and Psidium guajava exhibited no adverse effects and demonstrated a favourable safety margin, suggesting its potential for future pharmacological research. The data on the safety profile of ethanolic extracts of Psidium guajava and Ficus sur leaves provide valuable insights that enhance understanding of their medicinal potential and support future research toward developing safe and effective herbal therapeutics.