Evaluation of Acute Dermal Irritation, Sensitization and Acute Dermal Toxicity of Leather Cream in Laboratory Animals

Abstract

Unused leather products attract fungal invasion and deteriorate the product lifespan. The development of antifungal leather cream/polish can solve this array considered that the prepared formulation is skin friendly. Possible adhesion of leather cream to the skin may provide a route for entry of hazardous and harmful ingredients. In this study, leather cream prepared in the laboratory and a marketed product of leather cream were tested for acute dermal irritation in rabbits, skin sensitization in guinea pigs, and acute dermal toxicity in rats. Draize dermal irritation scoring system was used to examine the condition of erythema and edema in rabbits at intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Percentage sensitization rate, sensitization grade, sensitization classifications were accessed in guinea pigs after 24 hours of dermal exposure. Rats were observed daily for 14 days to detect any signs of irritation, change in general behavior, toxicity, morbidity and mortality. Histological examination of rat’s skin was performed at the end of the study. No any kind of dermal responses or any observable signs of systemic toxicity were detected in rabbits treated with either of the leather cream samples. No sensitization, erythema or edema was observed in guinea pigs. In the case of rats, the skin was normal with negative signs of toxicity, erythema or edema. Histological study also failed to show any damage in skin tissue layers of rats applied with test materials. The result provides a base for development of anti-fungal leather cream/polish which can enhance the life of leather and avoid the fungal invasion upon storing for a period of time. © 2020 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.