Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of a polyherbal blend in rats

Many people often assume the safety of herbs and use them in the form of polyherbal blends to treat various health conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the acute and subacute oral toxicity profile of a polyherbal blend in Wistar rats. The polyherbal blend was prepared to contain Terminalia chebula Retz., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Phyllanthus emblica L., Curcuma longa L., Tribulus terrestris L., Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, and Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. An acute oral toxicity study of a prepared polyherbal blend was conducted as per OECD guideline 423 and the subacute toxicity study was performed as per OECD 407 guidelines. There was no mortality and signs of toxicity at 2000 mg/kg single oral administration of polyherbal blend, indicating that the oral median lethal dose (LD₅₀) is greater than 2000 mg/kg. The results of the subacute toxicity study indicated no significant changes in body weight, food and water consumption, hematological and biochemical parameters in rats treated with polyherbal blend at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days when compared to their respective controls. Organ weights and histopathology showed no significant alterations in treated or satellite groups as compared to controls. It is concluded that the polyherbal blend is safe at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg and 28 days repeated dose of 1000 mg/kg by oral route in rats.