Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282164
Toxicological evaluation of DAS-77® – a herbal preparation
DAS-77® is a herbal preparation that contains the milled bark of Mangifera indica L. and root of Carica papaya L. (1:1). It is used for the treatment of various ailments in Nigeria hence this toxicity assessment. In the acute toxicity study, DAS-77® (constituted in dH2O) was administered to mice p.o. up to 10g/kg and i.p. at 250–3000mg/kg. Mortality within 24h was recorded. In the chronic toxicity study, rats were orally treated for 90 days at doses of 80, 400 (therapeutic dose, TD) and 2000mg/kg. Rats were weighed and observed for feeding and drinking habits. By 90 days, animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. Organs were harvested for weight determination, antioxidants and histopathological assessments. DAS-77® did not produce any lethality administered p.o. up to 10g/kg but the i.p. LD50 was 1122mg/kg. At TD, DAS-77® produced significant changes (p<0.05) only in body weight and food intake (↓), ovary weight (↑), neutrophils (↑), HDL (↑), and K+ (↓), which were reversible. Histopathological presentations were generally normal. Effects at the other doses were comparable to those at TD except for reversible changes in in vivo antioxidants (↑) in the liver, kidney and testes, liver enzymes (↓) and sperm parameters (motility [↓], count [↓] and abnormality [↑]). DAS-77® was found to contain tannins (3.26±0.15%), saponins (2.32±0.04%), phenols (1.31±0.07%), flavonoids (0.54±0.02%) and alkaloids (0.04±0.01%) w/v. Findings in this study revealed that DAS-77® is relatively safe with the potential for enhancing in vivo antioxidant activity. However, possibly reversible side-effects include electrolyte imbalance and sterility in males.
Keywords: DAS-77®, herbal preparation, acute toxicity, chronic toxicity