Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and Oral Acute Toxicity Study of the Root of Argemone Mexicana Linn

Objectives: The current study was planned to evaluate the phytochemical analysis of chloroform, ethanolic extracts and acute toxicity study of the root of Argemone mexicana. Methods: The soxhalate extraction and standard methods were used for extractions and phytochemical analysis. The drug was administration orally and animal’s observed from cage side observations. Animals were anesthetized with ether anesthesia, blood was collected from orbital puncture and analysis was made by standard methods. Various organs were collected, weighted and transferred to cassettes. Fixation was made with 10% buffered formalin and processed for histological embedding by Carleton's histological techniques. Statistical data were analyzed by statistical software Sigma Plot 10. Results: The phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract revealed presence of alkaloids, amino acids, phenolics and fatty acids and chloroform extract revealed presence alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and phytosterols. The oral acute toxicity study showed no noticeable clinical signs of toxicity and mortality during 14 days of the study period. No statistically significant alterations in body weights, organ weights and hematological parameters compared to control group. The microscopic anatomy of the liver and the reproductive organs showed a normal architecture. Conclusions: We conclude that the outcome of the present study may add scientific information of ethanolic, chloroform extracts and acute toxicity study of the root of Argemone mexicana to the system of medical specialization. Ethanolic extract of root of Argemone mexicana was found to be nontoxic up to 5000 mg/kg body weight, so the LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight.