Safety and toxicological evaluation of herbal formulation on rodents

Herbal medicines are still most popular, abundant and affordable remedies for curing various ailments. Garlina is one of the herbal formulations of Hamdard Laboratories [waqf] Pakistan used to treat cardiovascular diseases and elevated sugar level. However, there is no scientific data available regarding the potential toxicity. Therefore, the present study was to assess the acute and sub-chronic toxicity in rats. The single dose of Garlina 5000mg/kg were administered orally and observed for 14 days. A sub-chronic toxicity test was performed at 2000mg/kg of Garlina daily for 30 days. Control rats received saline. The biochemical, hematological and histopathological analysis was carried out. The acute toxicity LD50 was determined to be >5000mg/kg. The result of acute and sub-chronic toxicity revealed no mortality and sign of toxicity. Garlina did not elicit any significant change in body weight, hematological and histopathology analysis when compared to saline treated rats. The relative weight of organs was not affected by the treatment. While the daily dose of Garlina for humans is 20mg/kg. However, the sub-chronic toxicity at 2000mg/kg dose of Garlina exhibited significant increase in gamma glutamyltransferase while total protein significantly decreased. Results obtained from study demonstrated that there is wide margin of safety for the therapeutic use of Garlina and significant decrease in LDL, atherogenic index, GGT and bilirubin direct at the dose of 5000mg/kg further strengthen the use as hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic agent

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity assessment of herbal formulation garlina in oryctolagus cunniculus rabbits

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety profile of a polyherbal drug, Garlina. The acute toxicity was carried out at 5000 mg/kg administered orally while sub-chronic toxicity was assessed by daily oral dosing of 2000mg/kg in rabbits following ABPI and BTS guideline, 2009 and EMA, 2000, respectively. The outcomes of Garlina-treated group were compared with control group that received saline. The results of Garlina administered orally once at a dose of 5000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg/ day consecutively for a period of one month does not produce any remarkable adverse effects when analyzed histopathologically or biochemically. Similarly, hematological profile, body and organs weight also remained unchanged in its presence. However, a significant increase in uric acid at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg and a decline in RBCs count at the dose of 2000 mg/kg of Garlina were observed that will be monitored cautiously in the on-going clinical trials. The findings obtained in this study suggest that at prescribed dose Garlina is relatively safe for human consumption

Pharmacodynamic study on acute hypotensive activities of Carissa carandas extract in normal rats

This study aims to evaluate the effect of Carissa carandas extract on cardiovascular function of normal rats. Intravenous bolus injection of this extract in the doses of 5 mg kg[-1]-45 mg kg[-1], produced dose dependent reduction in arterial blood pressure [p<0.001]. The 45mg/kg dose caused a 50.75% +/- 2.71 decrease in MABP which was highly significant with P value< 0.0005 when compared with its controls. Significant reduction in heart rate frequency was observed after CC injection at a dose of 45 mg kg[-1] [p<0.001]. The results were comparable with Acetylcholine 10[-4] M. The receptor activity performed for which Atropine 10[-4]M was administered I.V. and then the extract [45mg/kg] was administered. A highly Non Significant fall in Mean Arterial Blood pressure was observed 1.51% +/- 0.22 [P>0.05].It was concluded that the Carissa carandas Ethanol extract possess potent acute hypotensive effect in normal rats. It stimulates the muscarinic receptors located on the endothelial cells of the vasculature. This stimulation results in the release of endothelial-derived relaxing factors [EDRFs] or nitric oxide that diffuses to vasculature smooth muscles and causes their relaxation

Antihyperlipidaemic activity of a poly herbal drug [Muym], in egg yolk induced hyperlipidaemic rats: a comparison with atorvastatin

The Purpose of this research study was to examine the lipid lowering activity of a traditionally used poly herbal product "Mufarreh Yaqooti Motadil [MUYM], in Egg yolk induced hyperlipidaemic rats. The product is being manufactured by Hamdard Laboratories [waqf] Pakistan for the last thirty years and has shown significant therapeutic effects. During our study the product was found to have protective effects against hyperlipidemia in Human dose. The activity was performed by the help of Biochemical Investigation, using Spectrophotometric method. The results were justified by the presence of scientific data during the retrospective literature search of the Product's Ingredients. A comparative study with the Allopathic Medicine used for Antihyperlipidemic activity was also performed. Significant effect of Herbal Drug on LDL and HDL and Triglyceride levels were observed which was statistically comparable with that of Atorvastatin

Toxicological studies of a poly herbal drug Mufarreh Yaqooti Motadil

Mufarreh Yaqooti Motadil was investigated for its toxicological activity in human dose, in rats. The drugs was found to be non-toxic and well tolerated even if treated for a long period of time. The biochemical studies revealed that drug decreased the serum level of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucoseand bilirubin non-significantly [P>0.05]. On liver the drug showed very good affects as caused a significant decrease [P<0.05] in GGT, SGPT and SGOT

Colorimetric determination of indolic drugs

A colorimetric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of the rescinnamine, reserpine upto [-10-4M], Yohimbine on complexation with bromothymol blue. The coloured complexes exhibit absorption maxima in the region 415-416 nm. The RSD [Relative Standard Deviation] of the method is 2.02%. The method is simple, easy, rapid and convenient for routine analysis of the indolic drugs