Objective: To study the pharmacological activities and toxicity of the crude alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica and to provide pharmacological data for the further development of this herbal medicine.
Methods: We observed the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica, using xylol and agra to induce the turgidness and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) to induce leucocyte strolling in the rats. The analgesic effects were observed by body-distortion methods. The effects of alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica on hepatic function were observed by testing the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and calculating the liver index. The LD 50 and 95% creditability were calculated with developed Karber Method.
Results: The administration of alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica had the function of inhibiting the auricle swelling caused by xylol and joint swelling caused by agar and leucocyte migration caused by CMC-Na, decreasing the body-distortion of the rats. After two weeks administration, the contents of ALT and AST showed that there was no obvious difference between administered group and control group. The LD50 of the crude alkaloids of Toddalia asiatica was 1.622 g/kg and the 95% creditability was 1.29-2.03 g/kg.
Conclusion: Toddalia asiatica has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and there is no injury to the liver after long-term administration in rats.