HPLC characterization, acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation of bark extract of

aimMAIN

methodsHPLC fingerprinting was carried out of BERM for the characterization of bioactives. BERM as a single dose was given orally at 800, 1600 mg/kg and 3200 mg/kg by a stainless steel cannula to the mice. Then the mice were observed for 14 days for mortality and behavioural changes. Food, water intake and body weight changes were also observed throughout the study period. On the fifteenth day, the mice were anesthetized with isofluorane and blood was withdrawn for haematological and biochemical analysis. The animals were sacrificed by overdose of isofluorane and organs such as liver, kidney, lungs and spleen were dissected out for histopathological analysis. There was no mortality of the mice even in 3200 mg/kg dose, stating that the oral LD50 of BERM is more than 5000 mg/kg. In terms of Sub-acute toxicity, for a period of 28 days repeated dose of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg as an optimum dose and a control group was kept with only distilled water at 5 ml/kg against the treated groups. On 29 KEY

findingsBased on HPLC results, prominent 5 major compounds viz: Diadzein, Epicatechin, Hesperidin, Diosmin and Quercitrin respectively were identified. Isolated changes observed in the haematological, biochemical and histopathological studies were not dose related and showed the safety of the bark extract. Similarly, the sub-acute toxicity of BERM has been conducted for 28 days, wherein repeated dose of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg and control group was given orally. There were no abnormalities found both in external and internal parameters. SIGNIFICANCE: Based on the study it is concluded that the bark extract of