Short-term toxicity studies of Ficus thonningii Blume (Moraceae) leaf extract in rats

The short‐term toxicity of Ficus thonningii Blume (FT) was studied in Wistar rats following daily oral administration of the leaf extract (250–500 mg kg^?1) for 15 days. Acute toxicity, body weight changes, organ weight, food intake, clinical signs, haematology, gross and tissue histology were monitored. The body weights of treated rats increased progressively, but the changes were not significantly different from control. The relative weights of the essential organs of treated rats were unaffected in both male and female rats. Of the sixteen haematological parameters studied, only the total leukocyte counts and plateletcrit values in male rats fed 500 mg kg^?1 of FT were significantly greater than similar parameters in controls. Histological findings indicated possible testicular, lung and hepatic toxicities. The LD₅₀ of FT was estimated to be >3000 mg kg^?1. The results suggest that short‐term oral application of F. thonningii may not exert severe toxic effects in rats at doses lower than 500 mg kg^?1.