Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Study of Glycosides-based Standardized Fenugreek Seed Extract in Rats.

CONTEXT: Glycoside-based standardized fenugreek seed extract (SFSE-G) demonstrated promising efficacy in animal models of immune-inflammatory conditions. AIM: The present study was aimed at embryo-fetal development toxicity evaluation of SFSE-G in Wistar rats as per guideline No. 414 of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mated female rats were randomized into four groups of 30 each and received oral doses of either SFSE-G at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg or vehicle (water) during the period of gestation (postconception) from gestational day 5 (GD5, an implantation day) until 1 day before cesarean sections (GD19). Maternal food consumption, body weights, and clinical signs were monitored throughout gestation. Cesarean sections were performed on GD20 and fetal observations (gravid uterine weight, implantation sites, early and late resorptions, live and dead fetuses) were recorded. Live fetuses were weighed and examined for external, visceral, and skeletal variations and malformations. RESULTS: None of the SFSE-G-treated groups showed maternal and embryo-fetal toxicity. Occasional and incidental skeletal and visceral malformations were observed and found to be spontaneous and unrelated to the treatment. CONCLUSION: Oral exposure of SFSE-G during the prenatal period did not show significant maternal and embryo-fetal toxicity up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg in rats. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for SFSE-G for prenatal oral exposure was considered to be 1000 mg/kg. SUMMARY: Prenatal toxicity of glycoside-based standardized fenugreek seed extract (SFSE-G) was evaluated.SFSE-G was orally gavaged to rats on gestational days 5-19 with a limit dose of 1000 mg/kg.SFSE-G did not show maternal or developmental toxicity.SFSE-G showed NOAEL of 1000 mg/kg for prenatal exposure in female rats. Abbreviations used: CPCSEA: Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals; GD: Gestational day; GRAS: Generally recognized as safe; HED: Human equivalent dose; NOAEL: No-observed adverse effect levels; OECD: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; SFSE-G: glycoside-based standardized fenugreek seed extract.

Preclinical Safety Assessment of Furostanol Glycoside-Based Standardized Fenugreek Seed Extract in Laboratory Rats.

The present work is aimed at studying acute oral toxicity (AOT), subchronic oral toxicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity of furostanol glycosides-based standardized fenugreek seed extract (Fenu-FG) using the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The AOT and subchronic (90-day repeated dose) toxicity studies were performed on Wistar rats as per OECD 423 and OECD 408 guidelines, respectively. The mutagenicity (reverse mutation assay, Ames test) and genotoxicity (mammalian chromosome aberration test) were assessed in vitro using OECD 471 and OECD 473 guidelines, respectively. At an acute oral limit dose of 2,000 mg/kg, Fenu-FG did not show any mortality or treatment-related adverse signs. Ninety days of subchronic oral administration of Fenu-FG (250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg) in rats did not induce any treatment-related significant changes with respect to body weight, hematology, blood biochemistry, urinalysis, gross pathology, or histopathology. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level of Fenu-FG was 1,000 mg/kg/day. Furthermore, Fenu-FG did not demonstrate mutagenic potential up to a concentration of 5,000 µg/plate (Ames test) and did not induce structural chromosome aberrations up to 2,000 µg/ml (in human lymphocyte cells in vitro). In conclusion, Fenu-FG was found safe during preclinical safety assessments.

Reproductive and fertility effects of an extract of Andrographis paniculata in male Wistar rats.

The possible effect of extract of Andrographis paniculata Nees (A paniculata) standardized to >or=10% andrographolide, the main bioactive component, on male fertility in albino Wistar rats was evaluated, by orally administering 0, 20, 200, and 1000 mg/kg of body weight per day, for 65 days prior to mating and 21 days during mating. The treated groups showed no signs of dose-dependent toxicity. The body weight gain and feed consumption were not affected at any of the dose levels. The testosterone levels and fertility indices in treatment groups were found to be comparable with that of the control indicating no effect on fertility. Total sperm count and sperm motility were not affected. The testes and epididymides did not show any gross and histopathological changes. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the no-observed adverse effect level of extract of A paniculata (>or=10% andrographolide) was found to be more than 1000 mg/kg per day.