Toxicolological Test of Saponins from Sapindus mukorossi Gaerth

Abstract

The study has been carried out to investigate acute oral toxicity, acute dermal toxicity in SPF rats and dermal irritation in rabbits. The result shows: 1) acute oral toxicity test shows that LD50 of saponins from Sapindus mukorossi is 9260 mg/kg (95% confidence interval is 6360 - 13,500 mg/kg) and 7940 mg/kg (95% confidence interval is 4890 - 12,900 mg/kg); 2) acute dermal toxicity test shows that LD50 of saponins from Sapindus mukorossi is more than 5000 mg/kg in both female and male Wistar rats; 3) dermal irritation test in rabbits shows that the average score of dermal irritation per day of each rabbit is zero after 14 days of continuous dermal irritation. According to the classification standard of toxicity in “Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics” (2002 version), the sample is classified as “practical nontoxic” and “non dermal irritation”. Thus, we can conclude that the saponin extraction from S. mukorossi Gaerth is safe for cosmetics.