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The present investigation was conducted to isolate the sesquiterpene lactone parthenin from the leaves of Parthenium hysterophorus. Parthenin was obtained using Soxhlet extraction apparatus and column chromatography in the form of white crystalline residue. The crystalline residue was tested for purity by TLC and characterized by NMR. The Median lethal dose (LD^sub 50^) of parthenin after intramuscular injection was found to be 47.78 mg/kg b.wt. in Rattus norvegicus. The toxicity symptoms like locomotory disability, itching sensation, labored breathing and dizziness were observed in treated rats up to 96 hours.
INTRODUCTION
Parthenin is a major sesqniterpene lactone found in exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus (popularly known as congress grass, carrot grass, feverfew, chatak chandani etc.) of family Asteraceae. The plantis a native of North and South America and now has been introduced to different parts of the world including India. Chemical analysis of Parthenium reveals that almost all the plant parts contain various kinds of sesqniterpene lactones (parthenin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-anisic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid etc.) of which parthenin [1,6 P-dihydroxy-4-oxo-l0aH-amhrosa-2,1l(13)dien- 12-oic acid-y-lactone 1 (Fig. 1) is the major constituent approximately amounting 8 % of the total dry weight of the plant (Rodriguez etal., 1976).
Both adverse (allergic reactions, asthma, hayfever and non-air borne contact dermatitis) and beneficial (antitumour activity, hypoglycemic effect and major role in nanotechnology) effects of parthenin have been reported in past by some workers (Sundara Rajulu and Gowri, 1976; Mahadevappa, 1977; Mew et al., 1982; Mahajan et al., 2004; Patel et al., 2008 andParashar et al., 2009).
Albino rat, Rattus norvegicus has been selected as an experimental animal for the present study because of their easy maiotenance in laboratory, system similarity with other higher mammals so the results can more closely be applied on human beings. The present study, therefore, is aimed to extract parthenin fromParthenium hysterophorus leaves and to assess its toxicity inRattus norvegicus.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Plant material
Leaves of P. hysterophorus were collected from areas around the residential colonies and campus area of M.S.J. College, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India in the month of JulySeptember. The plant leaves were identified by a botanical taxonomist at Botany Department, M.S.J. College, Bharatpur.
Extraction of Part hen in
The extraction of parthenin was carried out by using the method suggested...