EVALUATION OF TOXICITY AND ANTIASTHMATIC POTENTIAL OF AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION ON EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

The aim of this study was to explore acute and chronic toxicity as well as antiasthmatic potential of the ayurvedic formulation Nayopayam Kashayam on experimental animals. The present study was targeted for the study of its toxicity profile along with its antiasthmatic activity. The acute toxicity study was carried out using OECD 425 CPCSEA guideline in albino wistar rats. Oral acute toxicity study was performed at 2000mg/kg orally, which was considered as limit dose. The chronic toxicity study was carried out with administration of Nayopayam Kashayam at three therapeutic equivalent doses i.e. TED (45mg/kg, orally), TEDx5 (225 mg/kg, orally) and TEDx10 (450 mg/kg, orally) for 90 days. Further, antiasthmatic study was carried out using histamine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pig model. The results of acute toxicity studies showed that drug did not create any signs and symptoms of toxicity and no mortality was shown to an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg in rats. The results of chronic toxicity study showed that the drug even at level as high as dose of TEDx10 had no significant effect at all on hematological and body weight parameters, however mild to moderate unfavorable changes in kidney and liver were indicated. The experiential changes were not seen at the lower dose levels. The drug also showed a marked decrease in hiccups of asthma during antiasthmatic study. Hence, it is suggested that the Nayopayam Kashayam, prepared as per the traditional method, is secured/safe for utilization and treatment of asthma at the therapeutic dose level.