Toxicity testing of organic solvent extracts from Annona squamosa: Effects on rabbit eyes and ear skin

Abstract

Some organic solvent extracts of seeds and leaves from Annona squamosa exhibit insecticidal activity. They were studied for the management of human lice. However, toxicological data of these extracts have not yet been widely reported. In this experiment, the extracts of active compounds of leaves and seeds from A. squamosa in four organic solvents, i.e. petroleum ether, ether, chloroform and ethanol were tested for toxicity to the eyes and ear skin of rabbits, using 1:10 (w/v) dilutions of dried extracts in propylene glycol as test substances. The results revealed that some extracts caused conjunctival redness, chemosis, rugged cornea, skin erythema and oedema. The organic solvent extracts that produced adverse effects on rabbit eyes were in the following order of severity: ether > petroleum ether > chloroform > ethanol, and those on rabbit ear skin were petroleum ether > ether > chloroform > ethanol. Ethanol extracts of leaves and seeds seemed to produce mildest toxicity to rabbit eyes and no toxicity to rabbit ear skin. Copyright © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.