ABSTRACT
Aim of the study: The present study was car- ried out to evaluate the safety of a hipolipidaemic herbal extract by determining its potential toxicity after chronic administration in rats.Materials and Methods: The hipolipidaemic herbal extract was administered orally at doses of 50, 150 mg/kg daily for 90 days to rats. Bio- chemical and morphological parameters were determined after 90 days of daily administration. Results: In the chronic study in rats, daily oral administration of the extract for up to 90 days did not result in death or significant changes in the biological, biochemical and morphological parameters. Conclusions: The results showed that the hypolipidaemic herbal extract had no toxicity in oral chronic administration and indicate that the herbal formula could be considered safe for oral medication. Key words: Herbal hypolipidaemic extract, chronic toxicity. Introduction In the present time, there has been a great in- crease in the use of herbal remedies in the treat- ment of diseases [1, 2]. Many traditional plants with therapeutic lipid-lowering properties are claimed to be useful in the treatment of hyperlipi- demia and associated pathologies [3, 4, 5]. The hipolipidaemic herbal composition (extract) con- sists of ten herbs: fruits of Rosa canina L., Cra- taegus sanguinea Pall., Elettaria cardamonum L.and Malus baccata L., roots and rhizomae of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Zingiber officnale, såminà Lini usitatissimi L., folia Îrthosiphoni staminei Benth. and other. Chronic toxicity study of this hipolipidaemic herbal extract was performed in rats in order to evaluate the safety. Material and methods Wistar rats of both sexes aged 1-1.5 months toxicity assessment. Animals were divided into 3 groups (I–III) of 10 each (5 females and 5 males). The extract, dissolved in distilled water, was ad- ministered by daily oral for 90 days, to rats of groups II-III (doses of 50, 150 mg/kg, respec- tively). I group was control (distillate water). The animals were observed for signs of toxicity and mortality throughout the experimental period. The body weigh were recorded weekly. At the end of the 90-day experiment, rats of each group were sacrificed by decapitation under anaesthe- sia (sodium thiopental 50 mg/kg). Blood was col- lected for biochemical studies respectively. The organs (brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidneys) were weighted and compared with the value of control. Organ samples (kidney, pancreas, lung and liver) were fixed in 10% formalin for histo- pathological examination.
ABSTRACT
The present work presents information on the development and use of technologies for detoxification and desensitization of the body based on the tenets of the traditional medicine.KEY WORDS: traditional medicine, purification of the body, development and use, technology for detoxification and desensitization.INTRODUCTIONIn recent decades it has been noted the decrease in the index health as well as the incidence rate growth due to the deterioration of environmental conditions, the increased fastness of living, and the reduction of social protectability [7]. Pollution of the inner medium of the body with substances received through water, food and air causes a serious worry. These substances include plant and animal growth stimulants, fertilizers, pesticides, various coloring matters for foodstuffs, preservatives, drugs, salts of heavy metals, radionuclides, etc. Intensive xenobiotic contamination gives rise to dangerous acute intoxications and the development of chronic intoxication of the body followed by the disturbances of inner organs functioning resulting in the decrease of the bodily resistance and growth of incidence rate [2, 3]. Growing environmental and social pressing leads to the impairment of detoxification, desensitization, immune and other adaptive mechanisms of the human body [4, 5] that is a cause of many diseases. According to the data of World Health Organization (WHO) there is a tendency to the development of severe chronic cases due to intoxication and sensitization of the body [7]. Under the circumstances when the rate of chronic cases increases in number and the future generations are threatened with chronic diseases, the detoxification of the body seems of great importance.THE AIM of the given work is to develop and introduce into practice the detoxification and desensitization technology based on the traditional medicine.THE OBJECTS for studies were plant remedies stimulating detoxification and drainage function of the hepatobiliary system, gastro- intestinal tract, kidneys and skin created on the base of the traditional medicine formulae (nor bu dun thang, shi rguid, nephrophyt, sudorific plant collection). The studies were carried out with the use of pharmacological, clinical, biochemical and statistical methods [1, 6].RESULT. The lymphatic system is known to be the main drainage system excreting endo- and exotoxins from extracellular space, from cells and tissues [2, 3]. The system is capable to transport even big structures (high-molecular proteins, toxins) which enter the system through valves but not through semi-impermeable vessel walls as in the case of circulatory system. As a result transported toxins enter the venous duct. Further, the processes of detoxification take place mainly in the liver and kidneys. To avoid the “overloading” of these organs it is necessary to increase their functional activity using relevant medicinal preparations [4, 5, 7]. The increase in functioning of the given organs and drainage are regarded as the first level of detoxification and desensitization of the body. At present, taking into account the chemization of the home, water, air and food pollution and uncontrolled intake of medicinal preparations, it is necessary to pay attention to the “medicine of evacuation” i.e. to the purification of inner medium of the body [1, 5]. The technology for detoxification and desensitization of the body developed on the base of the traditional medicine, suggests the stage-by-stage intake of the remedy stimulating hepatobiliary system (nor bu dun thang) for 9 days; the remedy promoting the function of gastro-intestinal tract (shi brguid) for 9 days; the remedy stimulating the function of kidneys(nephrophyt) for 9 days and sudorific remedy (sudorific plant collection) for 9 days. Pre-clinical studies which were carried out on white male Wistar rats have revealed drainage and detoxification influence of the given remedies. The combined administration of the above remedies to SBA mice has shown that they have desensitization effect. Clinical studies of the given technology were carried out on the patients with endogenic intoxication and pollution of the inner medium of the body, particularly, on the persons suffered from atopic dermatitis and eczema. The Table 1 shows the results of therapy with the use of the developed technology of detoxification and desensitization of the body. The clinical studies were carried out on the patients suffered from allergic dermatoses (atopic dermatitis, eczema) at the Buryat Republican dermato-venerologic dispensary.The data given in the Table 1 show that the use of the given technology of detoxification and desensitization of the body improves the general state of the majority of patients followed by normalization of biochemical indices in the blood serum. Biochemical investigations performed after treatment have shown the decrease of the malonic dialdehyde (MDA) content and circulating immune complexes (CIC); the transaminase activity and concentration of α and α2 –globulins were also decreased as compared with the data obtained before treatment. The same tendency was observed in patients with the subacute stage of atopic dermatitis. Only in 5 patients no significant effect was noted. When the given technology was used for the treatment of eczema no significant positive changes in biochemical indices of the blood serum were noted in 32 cases in spite of satisfactory general state of the patients on the background of the treatment.The studies conducted have revealed the tendency to the improvement of the general state of the patients and the improvement of biochemical indices in the blood serum at the final terms of the treatment with the use of the given technology. Nevertheless in some cases a full health restoration was not noted in a number of patients, especially in patients with eczema. It is indicative of probable recurrence of the disease. Refresher course of the treatment is advisable.