Guazuma ulmifolia is a native tree of America and widely distributed in Mexico, is commonly known as "Guacima". The fruit is used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat kidney diseases, dysentery and diabetes, despite of it is widely used there is not information of its phytochemical composition [1]. Likewise, this plant is used by the population, there is a lack of evidence of it safety, to contribute to that knowledge the oral acute toxicity of an ethanolic extract of G. ulmifolia (EEGu) was conducted. The pharmacological evaluation or the acute oral toxicity (AOT) test was carried out using a modified protocol from 423 guide according to the criteria established by the OECD [2]. Preliminary phytochemical study allowed us to identify the presence of terpenoid like compounds. EEGu was subjected to UPLC-MS Figure 1A [3]. As shown in the chromatogram a mass of 455.10 with retention time of 4,320 was found; the chromatogram was compared with and ruling out the presence of ursolic and oleanolic acid, the compound found in elucidation process.
For AOT mice were administered with doses of 50, 300 and 2,000 mg/kg b.w. intragastrically and observed daily for 14 days to record mortality and weight variation (Fig.1B). and visible toxic effects in the pattern of behavior. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized and a necropsy was performed. Animals showed signs of toxicity characterized by decreased activity, respiratory changes, intermittent unstable movements and erratic behavior without changes in weight or macroscopic changes in organs.
According this results the extract is classified in category 5 "not classified" (LD505,000 mg/kg).
- CONABI. 2013; (1789): 246–9.
- OECD, Guidel Test Chem. 2001; 1–14.
- Wei J, Cao P, Wang J, Kang W. Chem Cent J. 2016; 10 (1): 1–9.