Toxicological profiles of commercial herbal preparation, Jobelyn

Abstract

PURPOSE: Jobelyn® is a commercial herbal product recommended for the management of anemia related illnesses. Despite its wide use, there is limited report on its toxicological profile. This study examined the acute and shortterm chronic toxicity profiles of the product with emphasis on the LD50, gross morphological and histopathological effects. METHODS: Albino mice (mean weight: 16.45±3.14g) were used in this study. For acute toxicity, graded concentrations of Jobelyn® were administered orally and intraperitoneally as single doses to the mice. Intraperitoneal administration of sub-lethal doses daily for 14 days was adopted for the shortterm chronic toxicity studies. RESULTS: The LD50 following oral and intraperitoneal administration were 215.06 mg/kg (r = 0.916) and 193.37 mg/kg (r = 0.995), respectively. The major behavioral/ morphological effects at high doses were reduction in motor activity, piloerection and sedation. The sub-lethal doses did not significantly modify the normal behavioral repertoire of licking, grooming and sniffing. Histopathological examination also did not indicate severe pathological changes. At the lethal doses, some degree of congestion was noticed in the lung, liver splenic and kidney tissues. Short-term chronic studies did not produce further toxic effects but transient mild sedation and piloerection and histopathological examination revealed only mild congestion in the organs. No death of the animals was recorded during the period of sub-chronic toxicity assessment. CONCLUSION: Jobelyn® is likely to be safe for use in humans when administered at recommended doses. Keywords: Jobelyn, safety profile, LD50, toxicity