Safety levels and chemotherapeutic usefulness of Momordica charantia were determined by evaluating the acute and subacute toxicity of the plant using thirty (30) wistar rats. The rats were grouped into six (6) groups A, B, C, D, E and F with groups B- F administered with 100, 500, 800, 1,200 and 1,500 mg/kg of body weight daily respectively for two weeks. The ones in group A served as control. The animals in group F died after a couple of days indicating none tolerance of the extract at that dose. The animals in group D showed 50% mortality at the end of the two weeks which indicates LD50 of the extract as 1,200 mg/kg-1 body weight. Macroscopic examination of some visceral organs revealed changes in sizes, coloration as well as some pathological differences when compared with those of the control. The acute treatment with 100, 500, 800 mg/kg-1 per day did not produce any symptom of toxicities or mortality. The haemato-biochemical parameters show no significant differences (P5mg/kg) and tolerated by the body. Momordica charantia is therefore safe to use as Ethnochemotherapeutic agent.

Keywords: Toxicity, Momordica charantia, Visceral organs, Ethno-chemotherapy