Potential Toxicity of the Essential Oil from Minthostachys mollis: A Medicinal Plant Commonly Used in the Traditional Andean Medicine in Peru

Abstract

Medicinal plants are used throughout the world and the World Health Organization supports its use by recommending quality, safety and efficacy. Minthostachys mollis is distributed in the Andes of South America and is used by the population for various diseases. While studies have shown their pharmacological properties, the information about their safety is very limited. Then, the goal of this research was to determine the acute oral toxicity and in repeated doses during 28 days of Minthostachys mollis essential oil (Mm-EO) in rats. For the acute toxicity test two groups of rats, of three animals each, were used. Each group received Mm-EO in a single dose of 2000 or 300 mg/kg of body weight. For the repeated dose toxicity test, four groups of 10 rats each were used. Doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day were used, one group was control. With the single dose of Mm-EO of 2000 mg/kg of body weight, the three rats in the group showed immediate signs of toxicity and died between 36 and 72 hours. In the lung, inflammatory infiltrate was observed, predominantly lymphocytic with severe hemorrhage and presence of macrophages with hemosiderin. In the repeated dose study, male rats (5/5) and female rats (2/5) died at the dose of 500 mg/kg/day. The body weight of both male and female rats decreased significantly with doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg/day. The serum levels of AST and ALT increased significantly and the histopathological study revealed chronic and acute inflammatory infiltrate in the lung; while in the liver was observed in 80% of the cases (24/30) mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate and in some of those cases there was vascular congestion and in one case cytoplasmic vacuolization. The Mm-EO presented moderate acute oral toxicity, while with repeated doses for 28 days; there was evidence of toxicity, in a dose-dependent manner, mainly at the hepatic level.

Acute oral toxicity of a novel functional drink based on Ilex guayusa, Vernonanthura patens, and cocoa husk

“…At the end of the trial, all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and different vital organs were collected (heart, liver, kidneys, and stomach) for further investigation [ 25 ]. The possible occurrence of alterations in the color, size, and consistency of the treated groups' organs was analyzed macroscopically (Stereomicroscope, Carl Zeiss™ Stemi™ DV4 series, Oberkochen, Germany) by the comparison with the control group [ 18 ].…”

Actividad antioxidante y composición química del aceite esencial de Minthostachys mollis (Benth.) Griseb de Ecuador

“…Traditionally it is used for the treatment of cough, bronchitis, stomach ulcer, gastritis, stomach and intestinal spasm, cold, headache, intestinal parasitism and as digestive. It is important to highlight that currently the trend of consumers is inclined to the consumption of foods free of synthetic products, so it is interesting to study native plants in this region to recommend its application as an additive for industrial purposes [8][9][10]. In the present study, the composition chemical and in vitro antioxidant activities of essentials oils of flowers and leaves of Minthostachys mollis collected of the Province of Chimborazo-Ecuador are reported.…”

Corrigendum to “Potential Toxicity of the Essential Oil from Minthostachys mollis: A Medicinal Plant Commonly Used in the Traditional Andean Medicine in Peru”

“…In the article titled “Potential Toxicity of the Essential Oil from Minthostachys mollis : A Medicinal Plant Commonly Used in the Traditional Andean Medicine in Peru” [ 1 ], there was a spelling error in the name of the author “Hugo Jesus Justil Guerrero” in the author list, where “Hugo Jesus Hilario-Vargas” should have read as “Hugo Jesus Justil Guerrero.” This is corrected as shown above.…”