Toxicity of Withania Somnifera Root Extract in Rats and Mice

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Abstract
Alcohol Extracts From The Roots Of W. Somnifera (‘Ashwaganda’ In Sanskrit) Were Screened For Their Acute (24 H) Toxicity In Conventional Swiss Albino Mice and Subacute Toxicity (30 Days) In Wistar Rats. A Single Intraperitoneal Injection Of 1100 Mg/Kg Of The Extract In Mice Did Not Produce Any Deaths Within 24 H, But Small Increases Led To Mortality. The Ld50 Value Was Calculated As 1260 Mg/Kg Body Wt. Subacute Toxicity Studies With Repeated Injections Of Ashwagandha Extract At A Dose Of 100 Mg/Kg Body Wt. (= 1/12 Ld50) For 30 Days In Wistar Rats Of Either Sex Did Not Result In Any Mortality Or Changes In Peripheral Blood Constituents. However, Significant Reductions In The Weights Of Spleen, Thymus and Adrenals Were Observed In Male Rats At The End Of The Experiment. The Acid Phosphatase Content Of Peripheral Blood In Both Sexes Showed A Significant Increase From Control, While Other Biochemical Parameters Determined In The Study Were In The Normal Range.