Acute and Chronic Toxicity Study of Vatavidhvamsana Rasa, an Ayurvedic Herbomineral Formulation

Vatavidhvamsana Rasa (VVR)is a famous herbomineral formulation containing various processed metals, minerals and herbals and is mainly used in treating neurological and muscular diseases. Herbomineral formulations in Ayurveda are always under scrutiny for safety aspects due to the presence of heavy metals. This study is an attempt to evaluate the safety of Vatavidhvamsana Rasa through acute toxicity and 90 days repeated dose toxicity. The oral acute toxicity study of VVR was accomplished in Wistar albino rats at a limit dose of 2000 mg/ kg. The oral repeated dose toxicity study (90 days) of VVR was carried out by administering VVR with honey at therapeutically equivalent dose (22.5 mg/kg), TEDx5 (112.5 mg/kg) and TEDx10 (225 mg/kg) dose levels. One recovery group (225 mg/kg) was kept for observation for 30 days after the treatment period. Vatavidhvamsana Rasa did not produce any observable toxic effects during acute toxicity study. There were also no significant behavioural changes during the entire duration of the acute study and all animals survived during the 14 days of observation. This implicates that the LD50 value of Vatavidhvamsana Rasa would be more than 2000 mg/kg by oral route. In chronic toxicity study, Vatavidhvamsana Rasa with honey as adjuvant given at different dose levels had not produce any major adverse effects in albino rats during the study period of 90 days along with a recovery period of 30 days. VVR at higher dose showed no significant changes in histopathology, hematological and serum biochemical parameters. At higher dose level of VVR at TEDx10 for 90 days, drug has potential to produce changes in liver and kidney related parameters. From the above data, it can be concluded that VVR with honey administered orally in rats was found to be safe in acute toxicity study and also at therapeutic dose level during chronic toxicity study in albino rats.