The acute and subacute toxicities of ajmalicine (raubasine) extracted fro Vietnamese Catharanthus roseus roots were studied. The oral administration of this substance (from 500 mg/kg to 1600 mg/kg) on mice caused no effect, except sedative. It was certified that there was no need to determine the LD50 of ajmalicine. The continuous oral administration on rabbits with high dose of ajmalicine (4.8 mg/kg body weight daily for one month) did not influence on their body weight, the blood and other biochemical indices. It can be confirmed that ajmalicine extracted from Vietnamese Catharanthus roots had very low toxicity when used by oral.
ajmalicine ; Medicine, Traditional ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal