Some pharmacological and toxicological studies on Balanites aegyptiaca bark

The aqueous extract of Balanites aegyptiaca bark, which is used in Sudanese folk medicine in the treatment of jaundice, was without effect when studie d on rabbit intestine, rabbit aortic strip, rat stomach strip, rat uterus a nd rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm in a dose up to 10 mg/mL gut bath, In a larg er dose (25 mg) the extract decreased significantly the contractility and t he rate of the isolated perfused rabbit heart. Administration of the aqueou s extract to biliary duct-ligated rats, showed a dose-dependent significant decrease in serum bilirubin level. The chronic and subchronic toxicity inv estigations indicate the safety of the aqueous extract at a dose level whic h showed a significant decrease in serum bilirubin level in experimental ob structive jaundice in rats. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.