A Study of the Chemical Composition, Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil

Abstract

Background: Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip. (T. parthenium) is an aromatic perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, also known as feverfew. It is widely distributed in various regions of Europe and other parts of the world. The plant has a rich background in the traditional medicine of many nations and has been used as a remedy for fever, pain, inflammation, asthma, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, etc. Methods: GC–MS analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the isolated essential oil (EO). Using the method proposed by Litchfield and Wilcoxon, the average lethal dose (LD50) of the EO on Wistar rats was determined for two routes of administration: oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.). The subacute toxicity of the EO was also tested by oral administration of a daily dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight (BW) for 28 days. The toxicity of the EO was evaluated by observing and evaluating changes in behavior, body weight, basic hematological and serum biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes of the internal organs. Results: Thirty-seven volatile organic compounds representing 94.58% of the total oil composition were tentatively detected in the obtained T. parthenium EO. The dominant compounds were camphor (45.47%), trans-chrisantenyl acetate (21.65%), camphene (9.48%), and cis-isogeraniol (5.42%). The results showed that the EO was not toxic when administered in acute oral doses. The acute mean lethal dose for intraperitoneal administration was LD50 i.p. = 2.13 g/kg BW. In the subacute study involving administration of an oral dose of EO for 28 days, there were a number of changes in the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of the blood compared with the control group of animals. However, no symptoms of toxicity, changes in the body weight of the rats, death, or pathological changes in the histological indicators of the examined organs—brain, heart, stomach, liver, spleen and kidney—were found. Extrapolating the results obtained from the rat experiments, we can state that the EO is safe for use in doses below 1 g/kgBW for a period not exceeding one month.

An Integrative Approach to Selected Species of Tanacetum L. (Asteraceae): Insights into Morphology and Phytochemistry

“…The comparison with literature data proved that camphor (29) was invariably the dominant component with percentages in the range of 43.0–60.0% of the total components identified [ 52 ]. Other main compounds detected in variable relative amounts in the previously investigated T. parthenium EOs were camphene and chrysanthenyl acetate [ 52 ], which were lacking in our samples.…”

“…All these compounds were reported in moderate amounts or in traces, with a high quantitative variability across samples. The variations in the chemical composition of T. parthenium EOs of different origin may be due to exogenous and endogenous factors, such as climate, developmental stages, soil type, and cultivated and wild-growing plants [ 52 ]. The second major compound found in our Tp EOs, farnesol (74), was not previously reported for T. parthenium , but is a minor constituent common to the T. vulgare profile.…”

“…Concerning feverfew, T. parthenium EOs were the subject of several previous works on samples from different geographical areas (England, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Tajikistan) [13,14,34,[38][39][40][41][42][43]52]. The comparison with literature data proved that camphor (29) was invariably the dominant component with percentages in the range of 43.0-60.0% of the total components identified [52].…”

“…Concerning feverfew, T. parthenium EOs were the subject of several previous works on samples from different geographical areas (England, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Tajikistan) [13,14,34,[38][39][40][41][42][43]52]. The comparison with literature data proved that camphor (29) was invariably the dominant component with percentages in the range of 43.0-60.0% of the total components identified [52]. Other main compounds detected in variable relative amounts in the previously investigated T. parthenium EOs were camphene and chrysanthenyl acetate [52], which were lacking in our samples.…”

Recent Advances in the Management of Rosacea through Natural Compounds

“…Tanacetum parthenium L. Volatile oils (camphor, trans-chrisantenyl acetate) [45], flavones (luteolin, apigenin) [46], and sesquiterpene (parthenolides) [47].…”