Toxicity studies in mice of common spices, Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark and Piper longum fruits

Acute (24 hours) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanol ic extracts of common spices Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees bark and Piper long um L. fruits were carried out in mice. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/ kg while the chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg/day. All external morphological, hematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to body weight and vit al organ weights, were recorded. The extracts of both the plants caused no significant acute or chronic mortality compared to the central during this study. During chronic treatment there was no significant change in the pre- and post treatment body weight of the test animals while the weight gain i n the control group was significant. C. zeylanicum treatment caused reducti on in liver weight while P. longum caused a significant increase in the wei ght of the lungs and spleen of the treated animals compared to the control. Hematological studies revealed a significant fall in hemoglobin level of C . zeylanicum treated animals. Both of the extracts induced a significant in crease in reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, sperm count and faile d to illicit any spermatotoxic effect.