SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ALOE EXTRACTS AND CASSIA-ABBREVIATA ON RATS AND MICE

The effects of crude extracts (500 mg/kg IP and 500-1000 mg/kg PO) of three species of aloes and Cassia abbreviata in rats and mice were stu died, particularly as regards their abortifacient actions. The LD50 va lues were as follows: A.globuligemma < 250 mg/kg IP; A.chabaudii 250 - 500 mg/kg IP; A.cryptopoda > 1500 mg/kg IP and C.abbreviata 500 - 750 mg/kg IP. Thus the most toxic was A.globuligemma. Their most visibly striking toxic effects in rats were CNS depression, and post mortem in vestigations showed widespread haemorrhagic lesions. Administration of the aloes and A.abbreviata to pregnant mice and rats did not cause ex pulsion or resorption of the foetuses. Several rats died within 36 hou rs of injection of A.chabaudii and A.globuligemma, but even in these r ats there was no expulsion or resorption of the foetuses. Rats which s urvived the treatment delivered normal sized, healthy litters at term. It is suggested that neither the aloe species test nor C.abbreviata p ossess abortifacient activity at doses which are not toxic to the anim als.