Evaluation of the acute oral toxicity class of tricentric chromium(III) propionate complex in rat

Chromium(III) is an essential element for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and various chemical forms of this element are widely used in dietary supplements. Of particular interest is [Cr3O(O2CCH2CH3)6(H2O)3]+ cation (CrProp), that has been proposed as an alternative source of Cr. However, its safety has not been studied completely. In this study, we evaluated the acute toxicity class of CrProp in Wistar rats applying the OECD 423 procedure. Male and female Wistar rats (n = 12, 6 ♀ and 6 ♂) were given by gavage either a single dose of CrProp 2000 mg kg−1 body mass or equivalent volumes of distilled water, and fed Labofeed B diet, and observed carefully for 14 days, than sacrificed to collect samples for biochemical and histologic examination. No death cases were detected, no major abnormalities in animal behaviour, body mass gains, gross organ histology, and blood morphology, and biochemistry were observed, except some changes of liver mass and the activity of ALT in female rats. The results demonstrate that LD50 of CrProp is greater than 2000 mg kg−1 when administrated orally to rat, thus this compound appears to be belong the fifth category in the GHS system or the fourth class (“unclassified”) in the EU classification system.