An evaluation of the toxicity of the oils of Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus medica in rats

Abstract

In the present study the effect of chronic ingestion of a diet treated with different concentrations of essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus medica on body weight, diet consumption, haemoglobin, total and differential leucocyte count, blood glucose, protein, cholesterol and urea levels and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activity has been investigated in albino rats. Rats in the treated groups showed a more pronounced increase in body weight in comparison to control rats after 60 days. The rats of the treated group consumed more diet than those of the control group. The haemoglobin percentage, total and differential leucocyte count, blood glucose, protein, cholesterol, urea, SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase did not differ significantly between the rats of control and treated groups. Copyright © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.