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

Abstract

Elansekaran, et al.: Singinatha Choornam for RhinosinusitisSinginatha 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 drugSinginatha 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 concluded that Singinatha choornam has efficacy against rhinosinusitis in rat model but not so significant to standard treatment.