Acute oral toxicity of Essential oil extracted from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum L. (Thulasi) in female Wistar albino rats

Due to the widespread use of antimicrobial agents, many Microorganisms have developed drug resistance to many available antimicrobials today. Essential oils from different plants are being explored for their ability to treat various human diseases, including infectious diseases. Earlier, we have found that the essential oil from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum L. had anti bacterial effect on 18 human pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, the essential oil of Ocimum sanctum L. was evaluated for its toxic effects at 300 mg / Kg body weight and 2000 mg / Kg body weight of female Wistar albino rats as per the OECD Guidelines 423 for testing of chemicals. The 14 day acute oral toxicity test has shown Ocimum sanctum L. essential oil is not toxic at 300 mg / Kg body weight of animals but has some toxic effects at 2000 mg /Kg body weight of animals. However, no animals died during the 14 day acute oral toxicity test with 2000 mg / Kg body weight of animals and therefore the LD50 dose of Ocimum sanctum L. should be more than 2000 mg / Kg of body weight of female Wister albino rats.