Current methodologies in assessing toxicity of natural products

Abstract

Herbal ingredients and the combination of several species of plants, account for the different therapeutic and healing effects observed in the "complementary" or "alternative" medicine. The practice of herbal medicine is responsible for extense human knowledge that has developed over time in various cultures, worldwide. Cosmetics or nutracosmetics may cause adverse reactions in the skin, specially when there is a lack of cosmetic vigilance management. It is important to promote, in a relatively permissive regulatory environment, conscious efforts on the part of health professionals, to evaluate the outcomes and validate their pharmacological and cosmetic use. Traditional knowledge about the use of some herbs should be reevaluated and scientific basis should be considered. It is important to conduct a complete scientific research for validating herbal therapeutics and optimizing safety. Scientific toxicological research, using proper models, must continue to prove quality, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics interactions with other substances, and safety. Mechanisms of actions, as well as factors affecting toxicity should be studied, revised and taken in account to prevent adverse reactions, when using complementary or alternative medicine.

Introduction of Alternative Methods of Testing Cosmetic Products in Ukraine: Opportunities and Challenges of Today

“…Тому наразі наявна лише незначна кількість стандартизованих рослинних екстраків, а більшість потенційних рослинних алергенів залишаються невизначеними. Підтвердженням цього є збільшення випадків алергічних контактних дерматитів та фототоксичних реакцій у пацієнтів, які застосовували косметичну продукцію, що містить рослинні екстракти.У зв'язку з цим тестування такої косметичної продукції варто проводити не лише з використанням методів in vitro, а також із урахуванням даних патч-тестування на людях [33][34].…”

Phytocosmetics: A literature review

“…Products made from natural ingredients are slowly regaining interest due to the recent allegations made against synthetic chemical products and their harmful effects on overall health and environment. The claims directed towards these products are worrying as they are considered to be endocrine disruptors that can have harmful effects on human health (3).…”

The component analysis of liquid smoke from rice hulls and its toxicity test on baby hamster kidney cells

“…On the in vitro level, the effects are observed in the cell culture, and on the in vivo level, the acute toxicity test needs to be performed. The acute toxicity test is part of the preclinical tests designed to measure the toxic effect of a compound on a natural product (Valle, 2018). An acute toxicity test must be performed after the in vitro cytotoxicity test (Erhirhie et al, 2018).…”