EC Pharmacology and Toxicology

Objective: UNIM-352, a polyherbal preparation containing six ingredients Linum usitatissimum, Trigonella-foenum-graecum, Allium sativum, Strychnos potatorum, Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (1g) and Pongamia glabra, Honey (q.s.), is used in Unani traditional system of medicine for bronchial asthma.

Method: In an attempt to interactions between traditional and modern medicine, our earlier clinical study using modern scientific methodology showed that UNIM-352 administration improved the efficacy of conventional pharmacotherapy and was well tolerated in the patients of bronchial asthma and thus, could be considered as a viable adjunct for asthma treatment. The safety of UNIM-352 and optimized preparations of UNIM-352 were evaluated by sub-acute oral toxicity studies in rats following OECD guidelines.

Result: The results showed no apparent signs of toxicity and body weight changes compared to that in experimental control group of rats. Mean organ body weight, haematological parameters drug treated groups were within normal biological range.

Conclusion: Histopathological examination of various organs showed no abnormal structural abnormalities. The results of subacute toxicity studies showed that optimized preparations of UNIM-352 were safe upto the dose of 2000 mg/kg.

Keywords: OECD; UNIM-352; Polyherbal; Histopathology

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