PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON FOENICULUM VULGARE DRIED FRUIT EXTRACT IN EXPERIMENTAL-ANIMALS

The ethanol extract of the dried ripe fruit of Foeniculum vulgare (500 mg/kg) was tested for diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial , cytotoxic activities and its effect on bile secretion in rats. Also, the acute toxicity after 0.5, 1 and 3 g/kg was investigated in mice. Tile extract showed diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic activities and it enhanced bile secretion. As an antimicrobial agent, the extract inhib ited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and sho wed a marked mitodepressive effect. At a dose of 3 g/kg, it caused pil oerection and it depressed locomotor activity but caused no deaths whe n administered acutely to mice.