European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC ORAL TOXICITY STUDY OF LC (LIQUORICE AND CATECHU) - A POLYHERBAL DRUG ON EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Kesha Desai*, Dr. Ramesh K. Goyal and Dr. Dinesh R. Shah

ABSTRACT

The currently available locally acting formulations to treat recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) are either less efficacious or they are not comfortable for the use in the patients. A single administration of LC was given orally at the highest dose level of 2000 mg/kg body weight in the acute toxicity study. Signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 h and every day for 7 days. In the repeat oral toxicity study, LC was administered to rats at doses of 250, 500, 750 and 1000mg/kg body weight for 28 days. Mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, biochemical and haematological parameters were monitored during the study period. There were no mortalities or clinical signs observed in rats in the acute toxicity study. The observable increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the group administered 1000 mg/kg body weight of LC may be as a result of congestion or obstruction of biliary tract, which may occur within the liver. ALP activity on the other hand is related to the functioning of hepatocytes and an increase in its activity may be due to its increased synthesis in the presence of increased pressure. The increased level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) observed in the present investigation apparently indicated the toxic effect of LC in rat. There were no significant changes in total protein in rats treated with LC, which suggested that there was no sign of impaired renal function. The near–normal levels of total cholesterol observed in groups treated with LC may be attributed to the presence of hypolipidemic agents in the herbal drug. Similarly, the drug had no adverse effect on the concentration of creatinine and urea. This is suggestive of no kidney damage specifically by renal filteration mechanism. Increase in platelets observed in rats treated with 1000 mg/kg body weight may be attributed to enhanced production and secretion of thrombopoetin the primary regulator of platelet production by LC indicating that it has haemostatic property. NOAEL from this preclinical study was found to be 500mg/kg.

Keywords: LC (Liquorice and Catechu), RAS (Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis), acute toxicity.