title: Is folklore use of Euphorbia helioscopia devoid of toxic effects?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate acute toxic effects of Euphorbia helioscopia in order to assure the safety and usefulness of herbal remedy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for chemical testing guidelines No. 425 for acute oral toxicity testing were followed in this study. Mice were divided into three groups (n = 5). Group I served as control. Groups II and III were administered methanol extract of E. helioscopia leaves and latex orally at dose of 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Then, all the animals were observed for two weeks. Blood sampling was done by cardiac puncture after 14 days from each group for biochemical analysis. Histopathology was performed to find out any microscopic lesion in vital organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LD50 was found greater than 2000 mg/kg. There was decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL levels of latex and leaves with methanol extract-treated animals, with respect to control indicating plant's hypolipidemic effect. On macroscopic examination, no lesions were found on vital organs, such as liver, heart and kidney; and normal architecture was observed on microscopic examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of results, it was concluded that methanol extract of E. helioscopia leaves and latex were devoid of toxic effects in acute toxicity study.
authors.affiliation: a University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab , Lahore , Pakistan .|b College of Pharmacy, GCU , Faisalabad , Pakistan , and.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: a University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab , Lahore , Pakistan .
authors.forename: Bashir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: a University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab , Lahore , Pakistan .
authors.forename: Mobasher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Sargodha , Sargodha , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erum
authors.affiliation: a University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab , Lahore , Pakistan .
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: a University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab , Lahore , Pakistan .
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irfan Bukhari
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019367:Medicine, Unani; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Euphorbia helioscopia; LD50, acute toxicity; latex