An experimental study to evaluate the effect of Nitya Sevaniya (daily consumable) and Nitya Asevaniya (daily non-consumable) food items on albino rats.

Background: As per Ayurveda, Nitya Sevaniya (NS) food items are recommended for daily intake while Nitya Asevaniya (NAS) food items should be avoided for daily intake due to their systemic wholesome and unwholesome effects after consumption, respectively.

Aim and objectives: The present study was conducted to perform in vivo safety evaluation of selected Nitya Sevaniya and Nitya Asevaniya food items.

Materials and methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups-each containing six Charle's Foster strain albino rats. Group 1 served as standard diet group, groups 2 and 3 served as test drug received groups namely NS50 and NS100, in which 50% and 100% mixture of Nitya Sevaniya food was administered, respectively. Group 4 and 5 as test drug received groups Nitya Asevaniya 50 (NAS50) and Nitya Asevaniya 100 (NAS100), in which 50% and 100% Nitya Asevaniya food mixtures was administered, respectively. The test diet was administered orally in the form of freshly prepared pellet twice a day ad libitum for 90 days. Parameters studied were gross behavior, body and organ weight, food and water intake, fecal and urine output, hematological and biochemical parameters, electrocardiogram and histology of various organs.

Results: In the NAS100 group, a significant change was observed in 20 of 47 parameters in view of pathological aspect. Among them, three parameters, i.e., platelet count, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and indirect bilirubin were above normal limits, while other parameters were within the normal limits. No significant change was observed in any of the parameters in the NS50 and NS100 group after 90 days of administration as compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Considering findings of this study, it is concluded that selected NS food items are safe while consumption of only selected Nitya Asevaniya food items (when administered in 100% dose) for 90 days have the potential of inflammatory changes in the liver, spleen; fat deposition in kidney and impairment of cardiac and renal functions.