title: Essential oil of Croton argyrophylloides: toxicological aspects and vasorelaxant activity in rats.
abstract: Croton argyrophylloides Muell. Arg. is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat diabetes and venereal diseases. This study examined the acute toxicity and cytotoxicity of the essential oil of C. argyrophylloides (EOCA). In addition, vascular effects of the EOCA have been examined. In mice, an oral acute toxicity test revealed that EOCA could be considered as a non toxic essential oil since it showed a very high LD50 (9.84 +/- 0.01 g/kg). In the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) cytotoxic assay, the LC50 value of EOCA was 275 [165-534] microg/mL. EOCA (1-1000 microg/mL) relaxed isolated endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine with an IC50 value of 126.7 [89.8-163.7] microg/mL. In rat mesenteric bed preparations precontracted with phenylephrine, EOCA (1-300 microg/mL) also induced a reversible, vasodilator effect with an IC50 value of 46.0 [33.3-58.7] micro/mL. It is concluded that EOCA is a very interesting agent from the point of view of the possibility of therapeutic application. This is because, whilst showing a very small acute toxicity, EOCA also showed maximal efficacy as a vascular antispasmodic agent with a pharmacological potency similar to that of other Croton species essential oils.
authors.affiliation: Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Avenida Paranjana, 1700, Campus de Itaperi, 60740-903, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aldair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de França-Neto
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cardoso-Teixeira
authors.forename: Thiago Coutinho
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Maria do Socorro
authors.initials: Mdo S
authors.lastname: Quinto-Farias
authors.forename: Celia Maria de Souza
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Andrelina Noronha
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Coelho-de-Souza
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahlou
authors.forename: José Henrique
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Leal-Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D001156:Artemia; D001938:Brazil; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D003436:Croton Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D003436:Croton Oil