Abstract
28-Day Repeated Oral Toxicity Study and Efficacy of a Siddha Polyherbal Formulation - Singinatha Choornam against Platelet Activating Factor-induced Rhinosinusitis in Wistar Albino Rat
*Department of Noi Naadal, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai-600 047, 1ESI Dispensary, Sriperumpudhur, Kanchipuram-602 105, 2Sairam Advanced Centre for Research, Sri Sairam Siddha Medical College and Research Centre, Chennai-600 044 3Department of Basic Science, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi-628 008, 4Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Arumbakkam, Chennai-600 106, India.
Correspondence Address:
S. Elansekaran Department of Noi Naadal, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai-600 047, India E mail: sekarnis78@yahoo.com
Singinatha choornam is an oral polyherbal formulation used in the treatment of allergic rhinosinusitis cited in Siddha literature Agathiar Attavanai Vagadam. This study aimed to validate Singinatha choornam as an effective drug against platelet activating factor-induced rhinosinusitis in rat model. Safety study for Singinatha choornam was done by treating rats orally with 18, 90 and 180 mg/kg b.wt./p.o./day for 28 days following OECD 407 guidelines. No mortality, abnormal signs and symptoms, significant haematological, biochemical and histopathological variations were observed. A phospholipid inflammatory mediator, 50 µl were applied intranasally in rats of test and standard groups while control groups intranasally treated with 50 µl of distilled water as single application. Three groups of rat were allotted (control - distilled water 2 ml/dose, test drug - Singinatha choornam 90 mg/kg and standard - chloropheniramine maleate 1 mg/kg) and treated for 3 days. After end of the study, rats were sacrificed and examined for nasal sinuses and lamina propria histology. The count of neutrophils was reduced significantly in test group compared with control along absence of eosinophil. The study concludes Singinatha choornam has efficacy against rhinosinusitis in rat model but not so significant to standard treatment.