Sub-acute Toxicity and Safety Study of Mecca Myrrh (Commiphora opobalsamum) by Experimental Histological Analysis

Abstract

Background: The native herbal medicinal products are vital source of the key medication; their excellent dogmatic safety study is of prime importance despite their strong validated evidence of efficacy. Aim: To study the sub-acute toxicity of Commiphora opobalsamum (CO) by histological analysis of vital organs. Methods: Twenty-four male Wister rats of 10-12 weeks age were used. Oral toxicity studies with repeated dose were accomplished in four group of rats, six rats were included in each group. Three groups of rats were administered CO orally in the graded doses of 250,500, and 1000 mg/kg/day once daily for 14 days Vs normal control. Determination the relative weight of vital organs and their histological changes were performed at the end of the study. Subsequently, the digital images of the CO - administered groups were equated with the control group. Results: Intriguingly, the relative weights of the vital organs, performed following 14 days of graded doses of CO given were equated with the control group, significant differences were not detected (p˃0.05). Furthermore, histological examination of the brain demonstrated no changes in its cellular neuronal components Regarding the heart, CO extract did not produce any histological changes, insignificant changes were observed in liver parenchyma of rats, regarding the kidney, no degenerative changes were noticed in glomerular tuft capillaries or renal tubular epithelium, conversely trivial changes were observed in liver parenchyma. Finally, no minor histological changes were observed in stomach (high dose) and spleen tissue of animals on comparison with the control group. Conclusion: Seemingly, the impressive outcome of this fundamental histological scrutiny of methanolic extract of CO demonstrated an imperative facet of safety and correspondingly displayed the key feature of its nontoxic medicinal application for short term supplementation.