DETERMINATION OF the TOXICITY CLASS OF A GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS L. PLANT EXTRACT, USING LARVAE CHIRONOMUS RIPARIUS AS A NEW TEST OBJECT

The herb golden pert (Gratiola Officinalis ) was used as starting material in the study. Magnitudes of the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and accumulation character determined in larvae Chironomus riparius were taken as toxicity indicators on the organismal level. Results of the extract toxicity obtained with larvae were compared with those obtained with laboratory mice in terms of median lethal dose (LD₅₀). A possibility of using Chironomid larvae Ch.riparius as a new test object in pre-clinical safety assessment of pharmacological substances was proved. A semi-lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of the bio flavonoid extract in which double-wing insects larvae Chironomid Ch.riparius were put was 2280 mg/l. A semi-lethal dose (LD₅₀) determined in laboratory mice at intra-abdominal administration was equal to 2375 mg/l. According to the toxicity classification of substances, the extract refers to the class of practically non- toxic substances. The herb golden pert extract has a weak ability of accumulation (TL₅₀<12).