This study evaluated the influence of the alcohol present in a formulation of the antiophidic phytotherapic tincture, Específico-Pessôa, on rat blood biochemical and hematological parameters, and on organ histology. Three groups of rats were treated orally for 10, 15, or 30 days; one group received the tincture, the other received alcohol alone, and the third was a control group. The results of this study indicated that cholesterol levels were significantly increased after 10 days in the alcohol and tincture groups, although these decreased after 30 days in the tincture group. Triglyceride levels were significantly reduced after 15 days in the tincture group and after 30 days in the alcohol and tincture groups. A higher creatinine level was observed in the alcohol and tincture groups after 15 and 30 days. The uric acid levels in these groups were reduced at 10 and 30 days, although this metabolite was elevated at 15 days in the alcohol group. Hydropic multifocal degeneration with lymphohistiocytic infiltration and some polymorphonuclear cells was observed in the livers of rats treated with either the tincture or alcohol. These data demonstrate the importance of considering the potential actions of the alcohol present in pharmaceutical formulations.

For more 30 years, phytotherapic tincture Específico-Pessôa has been used as supportive therapy in envenoming by snakebites in Brazilian folk medicine. However, little or no information is available in the literature about the safety/toxicity of this phytotherapic tincture. The present work was designed to investigate the effect of this tincture by maximum dose (0.75 ml kg -1 body weight) on acetyl-and butyrylcholinesterase and other biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats. Male rats were treated with 0.75 ml kg -1 body weight dose of phytotherapic tincture Específico-Pessôa, and biochemical parameters were evaluated in 24, 48 h and ten days after treatment. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight gain and cholinesterasic activities in brain and liver were also observed. The phytotherapic tincture exhibited significant effect (P < 0.05) on weight body gain, organs weight ratio (brain, heart and lungs), aspartate transaminase (AST), acetyl-and butyrylcholinesterase activities, cholesterol and low dencity lypoproteins (LDL) levels. The results indicate that tincture is active on physiologic system. These findings suggest precaution in the use of this phytotherapic tincture at the dose utilized in this study.

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