Bee-honey, propolis and Eucalyptus globulus extract: Pre-clinical toxicity study in Rodents

This study was designated to evaluate the preclinical toxicity of the phytomedicine - bee honey, propolis (1.8%) and extract of Eucalyptus globulus (3,7% ), commonly used in Brazil in treatment of breathing diseases. In order to evaluate the acute toxicity, groups of Swiss mice (n=10/group) received a single dose of phytomedicine (7.5, 15, 25 or 35mL/kg; p.o.) or saline 0.9% (5mL/kg; p.o.). This essay registered 20% and 40% of mortality rate with doses of 25 and 35 ml/kg, respectively. Animals presented lethargy and deaths were preceded by convulsion. The absence or presence of phytomedicine chronic toxicity was evaluated through biochemical and hematological analysis on rats (n=10/group) blood samples using daily oral doses of phytomedicine (7.5 or 15 ml/Kg) or saline 0.9% (5ml/kg; p.o.), during 90 days. The chronic toxicity essay did not show any treatment-related abnormalities in hematological parameters (red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; leucocytes and platelets). Concerning to biochemical parameters (glucose, urea, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides; alanine aminotranferase, aspartate aminotranferase, alkaline phosphatase and total proteins), only the group treated with phytomedicine (7.5 mg/ml), revealed significant difference (p <0.01) in the concentration of triglycerides (102.0 ± 8.8 in males and 100.0 ± 8.8 in females) when compared to control group (86.8±8.8 in males and 84.6±8.8 in females). No significant differences were found between the treated and control group in regard to body weight gain mean, neither organs (heart, spleen, liver, kidney, suprarenal gland, stomach, lungs, testicles, ovaries and womb) weight. The macroscopic analysis of many visceras did not show any significant differences between treated and control group. Thus, through this preclinical assay, it appears that no toxicological hazard (acute and chronic) is related to the use of tested phytomedicine.