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Background and objective: Foeniculum vulgare-Mill (Umlliferae), is widely used in the Arabian Peninsula for treating various human and animal diseases. There is need to insure the safety of this plant as a remedy that could be used for a long time. This study aimed to determine the LD 50 of the aerial parts of Foeniculum vulgare in mice, as well as to investigate its toxic pathological effects. Methodology: A total of eighty (80) albino mice of both sexes, weighing 25 -30 g, were used in the present study. Ten (10) mice were used for the determination of LD 50 of Foeniculum vulgare in mice. Fifty (50) mice were used in the acute toxicity, and twenty (20) mice were used to study the subacute toxicity of the aerial parts of Foeniculum vulgare juice. Results: the present results revealed that the LD 50 of Foeniculum vulgare juice in mice was 9.772 mg/kg/body weight (BW). On the other hand, mice received 0.9 mg/kg/BW of Foeniculum vulgare juice intraperitoneally showed slightly closed eyes intermittent convulsions itching of the nose and increased respiratory rate and abdominal movements. Histopathological examination of the liver showed hepatocytic degeneration and necrosis, congestion with perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrations and peribiliary mononuclear cell aggregations. Whereas the spleen of mice showed depletion of lymphocytes and mononuclear as well as multinuclear cells. The duodenum showed sub-epithelial congested blood vessels, numerous areas of lymphocytic infiltrations and vascular and hydropic degeneration of epithelial cells lining the duodenal Brunner's glands. Moreover, the kidney showed degenerated tubular epithelial cells, congestion with excess of mononuclear cells, necrotic and desquamated epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules. The lung of mice showed congestion, emphysema with variable degrees of mononuclear cell infiltrations and peribronchial congested blood capillaries and mononuclear cell infiltration. Conclusion: It could be concluded that Foeniculum vulgare juice is toxic to mice when administered in a dose of 9.772 mg/kg/BW. How- (1/10 of the LD 50 ) of Foeniculum vulgare juice.

Key words:Withania somnifera, lethal dose fifty, sub chronic toxicity, ashwagandah Withania somnifera (WS) has a wide range of therapeutic applications for several disorders. Toxicity studies on WS are very limited. The purpose of the present work was to study the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of WS extracts in rats and to determine the LD 50 value, which in turn helps in determining the dose range for the plant extract to be used with no harmful or lethal effects on the animal. Rats in acute study were IP injected with the alcoholic extract of WS (the aerial parts) at doses of (0), 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg bwt. In subchronic toxicity study WS extract was administered IP at a dose of 10%, 20% and 40% of the obtained LD 50 (52 mg/kg bwt, 104 mg/kg bwt and 208 mg/kg bwt respectively) for 60 days. Acute toxicity revealed an IP LD 50 of 522 mg/kg wt. Significant changes in body weight, hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes were recorded in 20% and 40% LD 50 groups with 15 -40 % mortalities respectively, by the end of the experiments. Based on this study, WS showed toxicity at doses higher than 10% LD 50 when given IP and it was suggested to use ≤ 10% LD 50 (IP) doses of WS extracts, than the tested here to start with in setup protection or treatment studies.Correspondence to: Khaled M.Ashry : ashrykh@yahoo.com

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