Toxicity study of Lauha Bhasma (calcined iron) in albino rats

Abstract

Background: Lauha Bhasma (LB) is a complex herbomineral preparation widely used as an Ayurvedic hematinic agent. It is an effective remedy for chronic fever (jīrṇa jvara), phthisis (kṣaya), Breathlessness (śvāsa) etc., and possesses vitality enhancing (vājīkara), strength promoting and anti aging (rasāyana) properties.

Objectives: The present work was conducted to establish the safety aspects of the use of Lauha bhasma.

Setting and design: LB was prepared by Ayurvedic procedures of purification (śodhana), sun drying (bhānupāka), sthālīpāka, followed by repeated calcination (māraṇa) and "nectarization" (amṛtīkaraṇa). The resultant product was subjected to acute and sub acute toxicity studies.

Materials and methods: Acute and subacute toxicity study of LB was conducted in albino rats. Criteria for assessment included ponderal changes, change in biochemical parameters viz., LFT and KFT and hematological parameters. Histopathological studies of different organs including liver, kidney, spleen, testis etc., were also conducted to observe pathological changes if any.

Results: In the acute toxicity study, the animal group did not manifest any signs of toxicity and no mortality was observed up to 100 times the therapeutic dose (TD). Significant increase in blood urea (27.83%, P < 0.01), serum creatinine (30.92%, P < 0.05), Aspartate aminotransferase (15.09%, P < 0.05), and serum alkaline phosphatase (27.5%, P < 0.01) was evident in group IV (10 TD). A significant increase in serum total protein (6.04%, P < 0.05) level was observed in group III (5 TD). Histopathological examination of livers in group IV (10 TD) showed mild inflammation in terms of bile stasis, peri-portal hepatic inflammation and sinusoidal congestion; lymphocyte infiltration in kidney and intracellular deposits in the splenic tissue.

Conclusion: Lauha Bhasma was found to be safe at the therapeutic dose and also at five times the therapeutic dose levels. However, alteration in some of the biochemical and haematological parameters along with histopathological findings were evident at the highest dose level.

Keywords: Biochemical; Lauha bhasma; histopathology; liver; spleen Triphala; toxicity.

Figure 1

Normal cytostructure of histopathological findings of toxicological study of Lauha Bhasma. (a) Photograph of liver showing normal cytostructure of portal tract control group (H and E, ×10) (portal vein hepatic artery, bile duct hepatocyte). (b) Photograph of spleen showing normal follicular cytostructure control group (H and E, ×10). (1) Central sinusoid (2) red pulp space (3) white pulp space. (c). Photograph of heart showing normal cytostructure control group (H and E, ×40). (d) Photograph of kidney showing cortical and medullary areas control group (H and E, ×10). (1) Cortex (2) medulla (3) glomerulus (4) renal tubule. (e) Photograph of kidney showing normal cytostructure of glomerulus control group (H and E, ×40). (f) Photograph of brain showing normal cytostructure control group (H and E, ×40). (1) Grey matter (2) white matter (3) astrocyte (4) oligodendrocyte

Figure 2

Histopathological findings in toxicoogical study of Lauha Bhasma. (a) Photograph of kidney showing periportal lymphocytic infiltrations L.B. 10 T.D. (H and E, ×40). (b) Photograph of renal tubule showing normal cytostructure L.B. 5 T.D. (H and E, ×40). (c) Photograph of liver showing inflammatory infiltrate L.B. 10 T.D. (H and E, ×40). (d) Photograph of liver showing bile stasis L.B. 10 T.D. (H and E, ×10). (e) Photograph of liver showing mild inflammation with periportal ballooning L.B. 5 T.D. (H and E, ×10). (f) Photograph of liver showing sinusoidal congestion L.B. 10 T.D. (H and E, ×40). (g) Photograph of spleen showing intra cytoplasmic pigments (normal cytostructure) L.B. 10 T.D. (H and E, ×40)