Acute and chronic toxicity studies on Polygonum glabrum in experimental animals

Abstract

Polygonum glabrum is being used in traditional and folklore medicine to treat pneumonia and jaundice. Plant roots are used in ayurvedic preparations to treat fever and colic. The leaves are used as diuretic agents and process vermifuge action. Plant decoction is also used in the treatment of Rheumatism. Besides having many uses and folklore claims, herbal medicines are to be thoroughly investigated for their toxicity also. Therefore this work is being carried out to examine the toxicity of the drug and established dose is safe to use in the clinical stage. The current research studied the acute and chronic toxicity of Polygonum glabrum root extract in rats. It is proved that there was no change in any parameter tested both in acute and chronic toxicity, which means the extract is safe and non-toxic at the dose of 2g/kg also.