Investigation of the anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic activity and median lethal dose (LD50) level of limonene in mice and rats

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic activity and median lethal lose (LD50) level of limonene mice and rats. Lethal dose levels were investigated using the probit analysis method. For the measurement of anti-inflammatory activity, seven separate work groups were established and limonene was administered in three different doses 0.15, 0.30, 0.60 mL/ kg. Indomethacin and etodolac were used as reference anti-inflammatory agents. For the evaluation of hypoglycemic activity, 6 separate work groups, consisting of healthy and diabetic mice were established and glibenclamide was used as the reference agent. The LD50 level of limonene was determined to be 2.77 mL/kg. It is determined that all administered dosages of limonene possess anti-inflammatory activity; among these, 0.30 mL/kg was equivalent to indomethacin, and the remaining dosages were equivalent to etodolac. No hypoglycemic activity of limonene was observed in healthy and diabetic mice. As a consequence, it is concluded that limonene did not show hypoglycemic activity, but possessed a strong anti-inflammatory activity.