Acute and subacute toxicity of chloroform and hexaneextracts of root of Xanthium strumarium

Xanthium strumarium Linn. is used in Indian and Chinese complementary medicines for its various therapeutic properties. There are reports stating that the plant is toxic and lethal to cattle and swine. We have studied the oral toxicity of chloroform and hexane soluble fractions of root extract of X. strumarium in Wistar rats. The toxicity determination was done according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines. In the acute study with a single oral dose of extracts at 5 g/kg body weight, there was no mortality or signs of toxicity. In the subacute study, none of the blood elements were significantly affected in male and female rats after 28 days. Acute and subacute administration of chloroform and hexane soluble fractions of root did not produce any adverse reactions or any significant changes in organ weight, mortality, and the body weights as compared to untreated controls. Administration of these extracts did not alter the hepatic and renal function, and did not produce any change in the hematological parameters. The study indicates that acute and subacute administration of X. strumarium did not produce any toxicity to rats as evident from weight change, mortality, and limited biochemical and histopathological analysis. Hence, the extracts are considered as unclassified and are found to be safe.