Safety studies of homoeopathic drugs in acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity in rats

Authors

Surender Singh, Department of Pharmacology, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Prerna Kalra, Department of Pharmacology, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Ritu Karwasra, Department of Pharmacology, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Anil Khurana, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of , New Delhi
Raj Manchanda, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of , New Delhi
Yogendra Gupta, Department of Pharmacology, All Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Keywords

Acute toxicity, Calcarea phosphoricum 6X, Chronic toxicity, Ferrum phosphoricum 3X, Ferrum phosphoricum 6X, Magnesium phosphoricum 6X, Subacute toxicity

Article Type

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Homoeopathic drugs are frequently recommended in day to day life as therapeutic agents by homoeopathic practitioners. However, safety of homoeopathic drugs remains a challenge because of the high variability of chemical components involved. Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the acute, subacute, and chronic oral toxicity of different homoeopathic drugs (Ferrum phosphoricum 3X, Ferrum phosphoricum 6X, Calcarea phosphoricum 6X, and Magnesium phosphoricum 6X) in experimental models. Materials and Methods: In acute oral toxicity study, homoeopathic drugs were administered orally at 2000mg/kg body weight, and animals were observed for toxic symptoms till 10 days as per the OECD guidelines. For subacute and chronic toxicity study, homoeopathic drugs were administered for 28 and 180 days, respectively, as per the OECD guidelines. At the end of 28 and 180 days, the animals were sacrificed and toxicity parameters were assessed. Histopathological evaluation of different organs was also performed to assess any toxicity. Results: In acute toxicity study, no mortality was found at a dose of 2000 mg/kg which indicates that oral LD50of homoeopathic drugs were more than 2000 mg/kg. The administration of drugs at a dose of 70 mg/kg body weight for 28 and 180 days did not produce any significant change in haematological and biochemical parameters of male and female rats as compared to normal control group. No pathological changes were observed in histology of various organs of treated rats as compared to normal control animals. Conclusion: These homoeopathic drugs are safe & produce no toxicity when administered for longer duration.

Digital Object Identifier

10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_68_16

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd.

How to cite this article

Singh S, Kalra P, Karwasra R, Khurana A, Manchanda R, Gupta Y. Safety studies of homoeopathic drugs in acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity in rats. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2017;11:48-57. doi: 10.4103/ijrh.ijrh_68_16