Ethiopian traditional herbal drugs. Part I: Studies on the toxicity and therapeutic activity of local taenicidal medications.

The quantitative toxicities of 33 taenicidal herbal drugs are presented, expressed as their intraperitoneal LD50 values in mice and their respective median effective oral dose and worm expulsion time in humans. Rank orders of toxicity, taenicidal potency and worm expulsion time of the herbal medications are indicated along with a discussion of their respective therapeutic merits and untoward effects. On the basis of considerations of lower toxicity, higher potency and shorter worm expulsion time, the taenicidal herbal medications are arranged in decreasing rank order of preference. Other therapeutic uses of the herbs are also presented and discussed.