28 Days repeated oral toxicity study of Rosmarinus officinalis in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Rosmarinus officinalis has long been used as a traditional oriental medicine. It is traditionally used as antioxidants as well as essential oil. Rosmarinus officinalis mainly contains the phenolic compounds which is responsible for the antioxidant property. In the present study, 28-day subacute oral dose toxicity studies of hydroalcoholic extracts of the plant of Rosmarinus officinalis were performed in Wistar rats.  The repeated oral toxicity study was carried out to detect the no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). In this study, a total of 48 rats were classified into the control, low dose (300 mg/kg), medium dose (500 mg/kg) and high dose (1000 mg/kg) treatment groups. The extract was administered daily from day 1 until day 28. At the end of the study, the animals were humanely sacrificed and assessed for the effect extract of Rosmarinus officinalis plant on body weight and relative organ weights, biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters. The biochemical parameters for the assessment of kidney and liver injuries were carried out. Results of haematological and biochemistry results showed no changes in the control and treated groups. In the histopathology, evaluation of kidney tissues in all treated groups showed no significant (p > 0.05) lesions. The results conclude that hydro-alcoholic extract of leaves Rosmarinus officinalis was found to be safe at highest dose level of 1000mg/kg for 28 days of oral administration.  Keywords:  Repeated toxicity study, Rosmarinus officinalis, biochemical analysis, histopathological study