A critical study on the acute oral toxicity of polyherbal formulation of Rosmarinus officinalis L. AND Withania somnifera L. in wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The present work was planned to evaluate minimum dose level and pathomorphological alterations in Wistar albino rats after administration of polyherbal formulation (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in 3:1 at 2 g/kg body weight accordance with the OECD guidelines 423. All the animals that were orally exposed to polyherbal formulation extracts were sacrificed after the Fourteen days trial. On gross examination, no specific lesions were observed in any of the organs, whereas microscopic examination revealed no changes. As there was zero mortality even after 14 days of exposure, it was concluded that the LD50 value was more than 2 g/kg body weight, and the above polyherbal formulation was considered non-toxic. The present study analyzed the minimum dose level of polyherbal formulation extract Rosmarinus officinalis and Withania somnifera and observed slight weight gain in all the experimental rats. Still, this study could not monitor any mortality or pathomorphological changes, so it can be concluded that the extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Withania somnifera are non-toxic or safe at 2 g/kg body weight. However, further studies with more experimental animals are warranted to ascertain polyherbal formulation's toxicity and safety level and use this to prepare new therapeutic agents in Ayurvedic medicine in the coming days.