Acute and chronic toxicity studies of the water extract from dried fruits of Terminalia chebula Rezt. in rats

Abstract

Terminalia chebula Retz. has been extensively used in traditional medicine for laxative, carminative, astringent, expectorant, and tonic. The chronic toxicity of water extract has not yet been studied. To evaluate its safety, the water extract from the dried fruits of T. chebula was orally administrated in rats. For acute toxicity, a single oral administration was performed at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight (five females, five males). The study of chronic toxicity was determined by oral feeding both female and male rats (ten females, ten males) daily with the test substance at the dose of 300, 600 and 1,200 mg/kg body weight continuously for 270 days. The results of acute toxicity showed no signs of toxicity such as general behavior changes, mortality, changes on gross appearance or histophatological changes of the internal organs of rats. The examinations of signs of chronic toxicity showed no abnormalities in the test groups as compared to the controls. Hematological and blood chemical values in treated groups were normal in comparison with the control group. Non-toxicity effect of T. chebula was present as no changes in body weight, internal organ weight, and general behaviors. Macroscopic or microscopic of internal organs or tissues in treated rats showed no changes. Therefore, the water extract of T. chebula given orally to female and male rats did not produce both acute and chronic toxicities in rats. Industrial relevance: The use of medicinal plants and preparations derived from them as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods and herbal medicinal products has become more widely accepted in developing countries. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the adverse effects of these plants and their preparations. Among them, T. chebula has received high attention because decoction of its fresh and dried fruits is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several illnesses such as laxative, carminative, expectorant, astringent and tonic. The data of acute and chronic toxicity on T. chebula should be obtained in order to increase the confidence in its safety to human, particularly for use in the development of pharmaceutical products. © 2010-2011. IJARNP-HS Publications.