Acute Toxicity of Castor Oil Bean Extract and Tolerance Level of Raw Castor Oil Bean (<em>Ricinus communis</em> L) By Broilers

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of raw castor oil bean (Ricinus communis) extract and the tolerance level of raw castor oil bean by broilers. The seeds were ground, defatted with petroleum ether and the residue was subjected to extraction with phosphate-buffered saline. The extract volume equivalents of six doses (0 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 9 g/kg, 14 g/kg, 19 g/kg, and 24 g/kg) were determined and then given by oral drenching to thirty 6-week-old broilers, with liveweight of 500-600 g. The doses were designated treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. There were 5 birds per treatment. The drenched birds were left in their respective pens with full access to feed and water and observed for 48 hours. Few minutes after the administration of the extracts, dizziness was observed, followed by diarrhoea. The intensity increased with increase in the doses. At the end of 48 hours, the total percent mortality was 60% for treatment 2, and 100% for treatments 3, 4, 5 and 6. In conclusion, Ricinus communis is acutely toxic, especially when defatted; and the tolerance level of broiler birds for raw Ricinus communis is about 4000 parts per million or 4 g of seed per kg body weight.