Background and objective: Foeniculum vulgare -Mill (Umlliferae), is widely\nused in the Arabian Peninsula for treating various human and animal diseases.\nThere is need to insure the safety of this plant as a remedy that could be\nused for a long time. This study aimed to determine the LD50 of the aerial\nparts of Foeniculum vulgare in mice, as well as to investigate its toxic pathological\neffects. Methodology: A total of eighty (80) albino mice of both sexes,\nweighing 25 - 30 g, were used in the present study. Ten (10) mice were used\nfor the determination of LD50 of Foeniculum vulgare in mice. Fifty (50) mice\nwere used in the acute toxicity, and twenty (20) mice were used to study the\nsubacute toxicity of the aerial parts of Foeniculum vulgare juice. Results: the\npresent results revealed that the LD50 of Foeniculum vulgare juice in mice was\n9.772 mg/kg/body weight (BW). On the other hand, mice received 0.9\nmg/kg/BW of Foeniculum vulgare juice intraperitoneally showed slightly\nclosed eyes intermittent convulsions itching of the nose and increased respiratory\nrate and abdominal movements. Histopathological examination of the\nliver showed hepatocytic degeneration and necrosis, congestion with perivascular\nmononuclear cell infiltrations and peribiliary mononuclear cell aggregations.\nWhereas the spleen of mice showed depletion of lymphocytes and mononuclear\nas well as multinuclear cells. The duodenum showed sub-epithelial\ncongested blood vessels, numerous areas of lymphocytic infiltrations and\nvascular and hydropic degeneration of epithelial cells lining the duodenal\nBrunnerâ??s glands. Moreover, the kidney showed degenerated tubular epithelial\ncells, congestion with excess of mononuclear cells, necrotic and desquamated\nepithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules. The lung of mice\nshowed congestion, emphysema with variable degrees of mononuclear cell\ninfiltrations and peribronchial congested blood capillaries and mononuclear\ncell infiltration. Conclusion: It could be concluded that Foeniculum vulgare\njuice is toxic to mice when administered in a dose of 9.772 mg/kg/BW. However, the recommended dose for treatment could be less than 0.98 ml/kg BW.\n(1/10 of the LD50) of Foeniculum vulgare juice.
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