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DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382761
Acute oral toxicity and total flavonoid content of Jacaranda caroba (Vell.) A. DC.
Jacaranda caroba is used in folk medicine against stomach and liver disorders. It is native from Brazilian "Cerrado", which originally covered about 25 percent of national territory, and occurs in all country's regional divisions. In Brazil, a commercial formula containing J. caroba combinated with other species was registered, also used to treat digestive diseases. Through evaluation of acute toxicity, this work contributes with information on safety of J. caroba preparations. A 70% ethanol extract was obtained from J. caroba leaves, and subsequently freeze dried. Chemically, the extract was characterized by total flavonoid content determination, using spectrophotometry after complexation with AlCl3 and compared to a quercetin calibration curve (R2= 0,994), read at 427nm. The total flavonoid content found was 1,7 ± 0,6 mg equivalents of quercetin per g of dried extract. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated in vivo (female Wistar rats), using OECD Guideline 425 as reference for methods. The LD50 in rats was above 5000 mg/kg. No toxicity signs were observed. In addition, there was no statistical difference between control and test groups regarding evaluated parameters (body weight, food and water consumption, organs macroscopical alterations).