Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies of honokiol microemulsion

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Honokiol, a natural compound, is explored for therapeutic potential.
• Microemulsions enhance drug delivery and bioavailability.
• Understanding honokiol microemulsion's safety profile is crucial for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of honokiol microemulsion.
• To determine the median lethal dose (LD50) in mice.
• To identify any adverse effects and establish a safe dosage in rats.

Main Methods:

• Acute toxicity: Intravenous injection of graded honokiol microemulsion doses in mice, observed for 14 days.
• Sub-chronic toxicity: Intravenous injection of honokiol microemulsion (100, 500, 2500 μg/kg BW) in rats for 30 days, followed by a 14-day recovery period.
• Examinations included hematology, biochemistry, and histology.

Main Results:

• The median lethal dose (LD50) of honokiol microemulsion in mice was determined to be 50.5 mg/kg body weight.
• The non-toxic reaction dose in rats was established at 500 μg/kg body weight.
• Vascular endothelial cell degeneration and vessel wall changes were noted at the injection site in some animals, but not in other organs.

Conclusions:

• Honokiol microemulsion is considered non-toxic up to a dose of 500 μg/kg body weight.
• The study identified localized vascular irritation at the injection site as a potential concern for clinical use.
• Careful administration is recommended to mitigate injection site reactions during clinical application of honokiol microemulsion.