In vivo acute toxicity assessment of a novel quinoxalinone (6-nitro-2 (1H)-quinoxalinone) in Wistar rats

Abstract The quinoxaline derivatives are an important class of heterocyclic compounds, obtained from chemical azote replacement of carbone atom. Fusion of quinoxaline production is relatively easy as they are obviously synthesized by the fusion of two aromatic rings, benzene and pyrazine. The new quinoxalinique derivative, 6-nitro-2 (1H)-quinoxalinone (NQX), has been synthesized in our laboratory. However, the related toxic effect on rat remains unknown. The present work aims to study the acute toxicity of NQX in normal Wistar rats. Seven groups of female rats received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, 120, 200 and 300 mg/kg of the NQX and followed for 14 days. Mortalities, behavioural changes, weight, changes in food and water uptake, urine output and weight of faeces were monitored. At the end of the experiment, the rats receiving the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) are sacrificed, blood and organs were collected and haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed in sera sample. The results showed that the NQX Lethal Dose 50 (LD50) was 161.16 mg/kg. The administration of NQX at a dose of 40 mg/kg (NOAEL dose) did not affect animal viability and body weight. In addition, food intake, water intake and urine output remain unchanged. Furthermore, at the NOAEL dose, the levels of blood cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes), haemoglobin, biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, total protein and transaminase) and organ’s weights (liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, heart and brain) were not affected. NQX seems to be relatively saved at the dose of 40 mg/kg in normal Wistar rats and could possibly be tested after further analysis in a preliminary clinical test.