The objective of the present research work had been done to evaluate the toxicity of crude extract of Carissa spinarum in Swiss albino mice.

Methods: In studying the toxicity, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines were used. Experimental animals (mice), five mice in each, were grouped into four groups; three experimental groups and one negative control. In studying the acute toxicity, 2000, 3000 up to 5000 mg/kg crude plant extract was given orally using standard intragastric oral gavages. For acute toxicity, a single dose was given and gross behavioral changes were recorded. In sub-acute oral toxicity test, Carissa spinarum crude extract was given to the mice by standard intragastric oral gavages at doses of 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of hydro-methanolic extract and 200, 600 and 1000 mg/kg of body weight of chloroform extract in every single to 28 d and various hematological and physical parameters were recorded.

Results: In acute toxicity, the given dose of the plant extract did not produce significant physical and behavior changes up to the dose of 5000 mg/kg extracts. In addition, no death was occurred in the given doses. In sub-acute toxicity studies of the hydro-methanolic and chloroform extracts, there was no recorded significant change (p>0.05) of hematological and physical parameters in the treated groups when compared to the control groups.

Conclusion: from the present study it was revealed that the crude extract of the plant did not produce any significant toxicological effect in the experimental animals and this supports the use of the plant in folk medicines.