Toxicological Studies of Chaturmukha Rasa, an Ayurvedic Formulation

Objectives: Chaturmukha Rasa is aspecial, Ayurvedic mercurial preparation broadly used by local practitioners and traditional healers. This research is an endeavour to perform acute and chronic oral toxicity assessment of Chaturmukha Rasa along with an adjuvant Erandapatra (solidified aqueous extract of Ricinus communis Linn.) in wistar rats. Methods: Oral acute toxicity study was performed at 2000mg/kg orally, which was considered as limit dose. The chronic toxicity study was carried out with administration of Chaturmukha Rasa with adjuvant at three therapeutic equivalent doses i.e. TED (45mg/kg, orally), TEDx5 (225 mg/kg, orally) and TEDx10 (450 mg/kg, orally) for 90 daysand an additional recovery group of therapeutic equivalent dose×10 for 30-day observation after the treatment period. Results: The result of acute toxicity showed that drug did not create any signs and symptoms of toxicity or no mortality was shown to an oral dose of 2000 mg/ kg in rats. The results of chronic toxicity study showed that the drug even at level as high as dose of TEDx10 had no significant effect at all on haematological and body weight parameters. The drug but, at dose of TEDx10 showed mild to moderate unfavourable changes in kidney and liver. The experiential changes were not seen at the lower dose levels. Hence, it is suggested that the Chaturmukha Rasa, along with the adjuvant prepared as per the traditional method, is secure for utilization at the therapeutic dose level.