Evaluation of Acute and Chronic Toxic Effect of Calotropis procera Leaf Extract on Bandicota bengalensis

Calotropis procera has nephroprotective and hepatoprotective properties. Its hay is used for increasing the meat quality. Besides being medicinal plants, also have suggested its pesticidal effects. For the present investigation, three types of baits were prepared (two from dry leaf powder alcoholic extract and one from fresh leaves juice) and given in bi-choice condition to field rat, Bandicota bengalensis for three days to observe its acute toxicity. Treatment period was also extended to 30 days to see the chronic toxic effect on kidney through histological studies and biochemical analysis. C. procera dry leaf powder alcoholic extracts and fresh leaves juice based baits had no acute toxicity against B. bengalensis when given under bi-choice condition for three days. Chronic toxicity test also revealed no histopathological alteration in kidneys. Total soluble protein content of kidney of treated rats decreased significantly compared to untreated rats. However, a non-significant biphasic trend was recorded in the antioxidant enzymatic activity in treated groups in comparison to untreated group. Thus C. procera leaf extracts based baits have neither acute nor chronic toxicity effects. Thus, these cannot be used as pesticide against rodents.