Petroleum Ether, A Laboratory Solvent Induced Cannibalism, Piloerection and Straub Tail Reaction in Rodents

Abstract

Petroleum ether is one of the most commonly used solvent in extraction of herbals/biological substances. In pharmacognostical studies, petroleum ether is used as a solvent for extract of herbals which was used for further pharmacological investigation. In a few of their studies, the authors have observed petroleum ether-induced piloerection which may be related to the herbal extract or trace solvent effect. Complete removal of petroleum ether solvent in herbal extract is not possible because most of the time the final extract appears to be sticky-clay-like material. Hence the present study was carried out to find the effect of petrolatum ether induced cannibalism, piloerection and straub tail reaction in rodents. Petrolatum ether was administered once daily at the dose levels of 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg for 14 days. During the study dose dependent changes in behaviour was observed with petroleum ether and cannibalism, piloerection and straub tail reactions.

Keywords: petroleum ether, piloerection, cannibalism, rodents