Avaliação da toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), em camundongos e ratos

O teste de toxicidade aguda estima a dose letal mediana (DL50) e classifica os toxicantes quanto a periculosidade, inclusive para extratos de plantas. A especie Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), conhecida como paude-jangada ou pente-de-macaco, e empregada popularmente como antirreumatica, antiespasmodica e expectorante, embora seja desconhecida quanto aos seus efeitos toxicos. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o potencial de toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de A. tibourbou (EAT), administrado por gavagem, em camundongos femeas e ratos femeas, seguindo as diretrizes OECD Guideline423/2001 e o screeninghipocratico. Os camundongos femeas foram divididos em tres grupos de tres animais cada (C1 – controle, agua filtrada, 0,25 mL; C2 –300 mg/kgde EAT; e C3 – 2000 mg/kg de EAT). Os ratos femeas foram divididos em dois grupos de tres animais cada (R1 – controle, agua filtrada, 0,5 mL; e R2 –2000 mg/kgde EAT). O grupo C2 consumiu 28% de agua a mais que o grupo C1 (p Palavras-chave: Toxicidade Aguda. Apeiba tibourbou. ScreeningHipocratico. ABSTRACT Assessment of acute toxicity of water extract from Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae) in mice and rats The acute toxicity test estimates the median lethal dose (LD50) against a given test organism and classifies toxic substances, including plant extracts, according to their intrinsic toxicity. Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), a tree known in Brazil as “raft-wood” or “monkey’s comb”, is popularly used as an antirheumatic, antispasmodic and expectorant agent, although its toxic effects are unknown. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the potential acute toxicity to female mice and rats of a water extract of A. tibourbou leaves (WET), administered by gavage, following OECD Guideline 423/2001 and hippocratic screening. The female mice were divided into three groups of three animals each (C1 – control, given 0.25 mL filtered water; C2 – treated with 300 mg/kgWET; C3 – with 2000 mg/kg WET). The female rats were divided into two groups of three animals each (R1 – control, given 0.5 mL filtered water; R2 – 2000 mg/kgWET). Group C2 consumed 28% more water than group C1 (p Keywords: Acute toxicity. Apeiba tibourbou. Hippocratic screening.