Evaluation of Acute and Sub-acute Toxicity Analysis of Root Powder of <i>Pygmaeopremna herbacea</i> (Roxb.) Moldenke

Abstract

Background: Root powder of Pygmaeopremna herbacea (Roxb.) In traditional medicine, Moldenke, the Verbenaceae family, is widely used for managing respiratory-related disorders like bronchial asthma and pneumonia. Aim: This study aimed to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of the root powder of P. herbacea. The drug powder was prepared according to the standard traditional classical textbook. Methods: Sub-acute and acute toxicity were evaluated using WHO standards in Wistar albino rats and Swiss albino mice, respectively. The animals were administered 2000 mg/kg of the test drug in the acute toxicity trial, and for up to 14 days, any toxic symptoms and death were monitored. The test drug was administered to the animals for up to 28 days at dosages of 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg/BW/p.o./day in a sub-acute toxicity trial, and their morbidity and mortality were evaluated. The study was concluded with the sacrifice of all experimental animals and the completion of the evaluation of all hematological, biochemical, and histopathological assessments. Results: The acute toxicity investigation revealed no potentially dangerous signs of mortality. Animals in the sub-acute toxicity study did not show noteworthy variations in body weight alterations, water and food consumption, or haematological, biochemical, or histopathological features among the experiment and the control groups. Conclusion: According to this study, experimental animals receiving a long-term oral dosage of 200 mg/kg/BW of root powder of P. herbacea did not experience any harmful adverse reactions, stating that the human utilisation of the test drug is safe.