Investigation of induced biochemical and histopathological parameters of acetonitril extract of Jatropha carcus in albino rats.

Toxicological and histopathological investigations were carried on the acetonitril extract from J. carcus in comparison to praziquantel, the known antischistosomal drug. On a constant weight dose bases (single dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight injected orally to albino rats), the acetonitril extract from J. carcus showed mild toxicological parameters (AST p < 0.001, ALT & creatinine, non-significant), biochemical parameters (total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, proteins, albumins globulins, ascorbic acid and bilirubin, non-significant) and histo-pathological profile (slight alterations in liver, kidney and spleen), in comparison to control. However, these side-effects were very little as compared to the severe side-effects caused by Praziquantel.