Acute and 30-day oral toxicity studies of administered carnosic acid

PurposeIncreasing interest in carnosic acid (CA) is due to its pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and 30-day oral toxicity of CA.MethodsThe acute oral toxicity study in Kuming mice design followed the OECD-guidelines 423, and a 30-day chronic oral toxicity study in Wistar rats based on the enhanced OECD test guideline 407 were performed.ResultsThe oral lethal dose (LD50) for mice was 7100 mg/kg of body weight in the acute toxicity study. The histopathological changes were observed in the heart, liver and kidney for the survival mice treated with a single dose CA. For the sub chronic toxicity study, CA administered for 30 days produced slightly reductions in the weight gain pattern, which did not reach the significant level when compared with the control values. With respect to serum biochemistry test, decreased total serum protein levels, but conversely increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were detected in the high-dose and moderate-dose groups. Histopathologically, light pathological changes were observed in the heart, liver, and kidney of rats treated with the high-dose CA.ConclusionThe present work suggests that a short-term oral administration of CA has a relatively low toxicity profile.

► Median lethal dose of carnosic acid was 7100 mg/kg in mice oral acute toxicity study. ► Histopathological changes found in heart and liver in acute toxicity survival mice. ► Spleen weight increased in rat treated with drug for 30-day oral chronic toxicity. ► Pathological changes found in heart and liver in rat 30-day oral chronic toxicity. ► Carnosic acid was administered in rat for 30 days produced slightly low toxicology.