The aim of this work was the assessment of acute oral toxicity of the ethanol extract (EE) of the aerial parts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. This plant is used in folk medicine despite its classification as a toxic plant. Wistar rats were treated per oralis with single doses of EE [1.2 g/kg; 1.8 g/kg; 2.7 g/kg; 4.0 g/kg and 5.0 g/kg (w.b.)] and observed for 14 days. The most important signs of toxicity were: ptosis; reduction of body weight and hindlimb paralysis. Other sgnificant alterations occurred only in males treated with 5.0 g/kg (w.b.): increase of creatinine, AST, sodium and potassium seric levels; reduction of urea and albumin; leukopenia and small alterations in color and consistence of viscera. The LD50 value was higher than 4.0 g/kg (w.b.) for males and higher than 5.0 g/kg (w.b) for females. These results indicate a low oral acute toxicity, in relative terms, however it shows the importance of long-term toxicological studies of the EE from J. gossypiifolia.
Jatropha gossypiifolia; Euphorbiaceae; acute toxicity
