The toxic properties of petroleum spirit (40°-60°C) and water-soluble absolute
alcoholic extracts of the bark of Barringtonia acutangula (Gaertn.) were investigated on
laboratory animals. The petroleum spirit extract when administered intra-peritoneally
was found toxic to the experimental mice. The 24-hr LDW value was found 81.47 mg.kg’
1 body weight. The %2 value for the lethal dose was found significant at 0.1% level of
significance. The petroleum spirit and water-soluble absolute alcoholic extracts when
administered orally to rats showed some toxic properties but no mortality. The study
reveals that the petroleum spirit (40°-60°C) extract of the bark of Barringtonia acutangula
(Gaertn.) has a great prospect to decrease or substitute the use of synthetic pesticides,
especially the organophosphates.